Every pet owner wants only the best for their pet, and that includes adequate physical activity. Regular walks are a must, but you can provide your pet with some extra fun and activity if you have a garden. You can easily make a natural haven both for your pet and you if you follow these gardening tips for a pet-friendly garden.
Who let the dogs out!
If you have a dog no matter the size, your garden will need a solid fence. Usually, 1.2 meters is high enough, but if you have an extra athletic breed, you’ll need to take it up a notch from 1.5 to 1.8 meters. Curious dogs always like to put their noses where they don’t belong, so be careful when it comes to board gaps on your fence. Also, don’t leave a big gap between the fence and the ground if you want to prevent your dog from digging holes there. These fences are also great if you have a child because you can be sure they won’t just suddenly run out in the streets chasing after their pooch.
Carefully pick plants
If you want a pet-friendly garden, then it’s crucial to keep all toxic things out of your pet’s reach. Not many people know this, but some plants that are perfectly safe for people can be quite toxic to animals. If they eat them, they can end up with stomach problems and even some more serious health issues. Make sure to check out the list of toxic plants for pets before planting, and remove all existing toxic plants from your garden. You can always spice things up with some safe and equally beautiful plants for both you and your pet to enjoy.
Limit pesticide and herbicide use
Pesticides and herbicides are also a potential health risk for your pets. They might not kill your dog or cat, but they can make animals very sick. Keep in mind that your pet is much closer to the ground and the chemicals than you are. Plus, they are significantly smaller than you which makes more susceptible to chemicals. You can try using more natural ways of fighting off pests and weeds, but if you simply need to use chemicals, don’t let your dog snoop out in the garden at least a few days after you’ve used chemicals.
Provide them with shelter
Every proper pet-friendly garden needs to have a proper shelter from the elements, especially if your pets spend a lot of time outside. You simply must provide your dog with a spacious dog house, so your dogs can have a spot for resting and taking shelter from the hot and cold weather. You can get a new dog house online or you can make one by yourself if you’re handy with tools, just make sure you have all the adequate ppe gear to avoid accidents. You can also plant some bigger plants, such as trees or big shrubs, to provide shade. They will come in handy both for you and your pets.
Clean up the clutter
Pets are curious beings and a lot of things can attract their attention, and every garden is full of such temptations. It’s best if you keep your garden mess-free to avoid any potential risks. Make sure your tools and chemicals are all safely stored. Even seemingly harmless things such as gardening gloves or a dust mask can be a health hazard if your pet eats them. Clutter-free gardens are also much safer for your kids and can be a great boost to your home value.
As you can see, designing a pet-friendly garden is not hard at all. If you follow these gardening tips, you, your family and your pets will be able to benefit from all the joys a nice garden has to offer.
Author: Aaron Hiddleston
