How to Pet-proof Your Garden

Winter is finally over and at least for most of the country, Spring is here!  Most of us will enjoy the outdoors, enjoy our gardens and spend some time with our pets.  But most of us forget that dogs view newly planted seedlings or flower beds as a digging playground and will stop at nothing to uproot everything in their path.  Today’s post is all about planning to help your pet get along wonderfully with your garden.

The first big thing you need to do is stop fertilizing and putting chemicals on your lawn.  Dogs roll around in the grass, and eat it.  You don’t want your pooch to get sick!  Think about adding native plants to your gardens.  They won’t require extra watering or chemicals and care will be minimal.

You should also be proactive about weeding.  Don’t rely on sprays or other chemicals to get rid of the weeds - get out there and pick them before they become a huge problem.  Another great idea is composting, it is free, natural fertilizer for your lawn.  If you use too many chemicals on your lawn, you are not only killing the bad stuff, but also the good stuff.  Think about creating your own compost heap - it is inexpensive and your yard will reap the benefits!

What about the digging?

Digging is the biggest problem homeowners have with their pets.  If you have a pet that loves to dig, this section is for you!  Pay close attention, in no time you can have a picture perfect garden and all your flowers will be safe!

The first thing to look at is the design of your garden.  Homeowners are becoming more and more creative when it comes to keeping their flowers protected.  Raised beds, or clearly defined pathways make it easier to keep your dog out.  You could also think about the type of plant - plants that grow up trellises or trees will be kept out of your dog’s pathway.

Look at your pets behavior - is there a certain spot she usually lays?  If so, you should probably avoid planting anything there.  Rough mulch or rocks will also discourage your pet from trespassing.  If you have a dog that loves to patrol the perimeter of your yard, be sure to keep enough room between your fence and the flower gardens.

You can also allow your pet to have one section of the yard where digging is acceptable.  Keep a small area of loose dirt and train your dog to dig there.  Using treats and toys, you can easily coax your pet to get used to the idea and get her to understand where digging is and is not acceptable.

Planting: 

Most plants are harmless to your pets, but some can be incredibly toxic.  The plants by themselves would generally not be interesting to your dog, but the organic material used to grow them (such as your compost) could attract your dog to them.  A complete list of plants that are toxic to animals can be found by visiting:  www.aspca.org/apcc.  Your dog could also chew on sticks from plants you are pruning.  Watch puppies carefully.

Two ingredients you should avoid at all costs are:  1) disulfoton - used in rose products, and 2) metaldehyde - used in slug baits. Both these chemicals attract dogs, but can cause seizures and death if ingested.  Cocoa bean mulch should NEVER be used - as with all chocolate products they can be fatal to dogs.

If you have to use other products, be sure to give your veterinarian a call and look at the ingredients!  Companies are becoming more and more pet-friendly, so I am sure it is only a matter of time before complete lawn care systems will be made safe for pets.  Hopefully this post will help you and your dog enjoy your garden.  It’s much better than the alternative:  your dog enjoying the garden and you working to repair it!

Thanks for reading!  As always your participation in comments and discussions are encouraged and greatly appreciated!!