Novelist Milan Kundera observed, “Dogs are our link to paradise…To sit with a dog on a hillside on a glorious afternoon is to be back in Eden, where doing nothing was not boring—it was peace.”
Gardeners strive to create a place of reflection and peace, even when shared with our pets. With a bit of planning, we can arrange or rearrange our beautiful gardens to accommodate pets, specifically dogs.
Here are 4 considerations:
1. What we know about our pets’ personalities and behaviors. 2. The current conditions in our gardens that impact our pets. 3. Where are the dangers to or from pets in the garden. 4. How we can pet-proof the garden.
FIRST, what we know already about the pet(s) that will be enjoying our gardens with us:
If the pet is a cat, there are only two considerations (they are, after all, very independent creatures.) Give your cat a flea collar and let it wander through the garden and beyond, at will. Build a large, airy space encased in chicken wire where the cat can observe the garden’s beauty but remain corralled.
Dogs: Our dear family pets. (For some of us, adapting the garden to a dog is in response to “grand-dogs” or the dogs of good friends that visit our homes and gardens.) If the dog has been a family member for some time, what are his/her habits? If the dog is a puppy, how trainable is she/he? What sort of training is already in place? How does he/she get exercise? Where does the dog relieve him/herself? Is she/he a bounder or a meanderer around the yard and garden? Is digging a favorite pastime?
SECOND, evaluate your garden in its current configuration.
General layout: What paths or routes seem natural for your pet in the garden? Are there boundaries (fences, shrubs) to keep your pet safe from traffic and other dangers? Are there neighbors to consider and neighborhood dogs? What are the fragile and special plants you need to protect, and do they need to be relocated or simply provided with a protective barrier from the dog?
Shade and sunlight: Consider where your pet can rest in shade and where to play in sunlight. Are there trees or tree limbs that need to be trimmed or removed?
Dry and damp areas: Are there areas that become muddy, and how can that be alleviated before your pet carries in mud from your garden? Are there a couple places where the ground is unplanted and your pet can dig and roll in the earth?
THIRD, where and what are the dangerous or difficult areas in the garden.
Precious and sensitive plantings: Plants that are rare or hold particular significance for you personally need to be protected. It’s more fun if you can avoid scolding your sweet lab for stepping on the patch of grandmother’s daisies or for peeing on the delphinium. Don’t forget to protect your fragile dahlias and bleeding hearts.
Inedible Plants: Does your dog want to taste everything? There are some familiar plants that can sicken your cockapoo if she eats them. These toxic plants include but are not limited to: lilies, Lily of the Valley, foxglove, azalea, Hosta, English ivy, and daffodils.
Fencing: The side of the garden with the rusty chicken wire will never hold back your bounding terrier. Your neighbor’s picket fence may tempt your retriever to dig under it or chew on the slats. Do you need a fence for that space behind the garage that invites a curious pup to go exploring?
FOURTH, in summary, what are the best ways to protect both our gardens and our pets, not to mention our peace of mind.
Perimeters: Add or repair all essential fences that protect flower beds and garden boundaries. Sometimes your fence may keep Fido out as well as keeping him in.
Sunlight: Identify a few inviting spots where Daisy can bask in the morning sunlight without crushing your favorite bleeding-heart. Sometimes there’s already a recognizable recess in the flowers where your pet has tried sunbathing.
Shade: Our summers are often hot. Be sure there are shady options too. If you don’t want Max sleeping under the ornamental cherry tree, try a pretty beach umbrella or beach cabana. It might be just the thing to cool your dog and add interest to a forgotten corner of the garden.
Groundcover: And while you’re looking into shade and sun, consider the groundcover. Clover or creeping thyme are lovely and hardy. Or, get serious with flagstone, gravel, or artificial turf in the areas where your pet will rest day-after-day. If you’re a fan of mulch, use cedar, pine, or even rubber mulch. But avoid cocoa mulch which contains substances similar to chocolate that are toxic to animals.
Water: If you intend to leave Bella outdoors for extended periods you’ll want to provide water. You may already have small fountain or pond that can provide drinking water. Otherwise, you’ll want to select a shady place for a water dish that can easily be refreshed from a nearby hose or faucet.
Digging: If your dog is fond of digging, you’re probably not going to change his/her preference. You may have a little area where your plantings have struggled. Turn it over to Fido. Maybe leave a bone there or a toy to identify this bare earth as puppy-land, the digging zone.
Nature’s call! And we mustn’t forget about puppy pooh and pee! Choose an area that is away from public view and unlikely to share its odors through a nearby window. Hopefully, you’ll be able to train Bella or Max to return to the same area to relieve him/herself. To do that, someone will have to regularly clear the area and perhaps put down sand or wood shavings or simply rake the area.
We all love these dear companions, and it’s worth taking the time to make adjustments in our gardens to keep our pets happy and avoid our own displeasure.
