Do you wish to create a pet-safe and enjoyable garden space for your doggy friend? A dreamy backyard haven designed with the right choice of plants and ample pet-centric spaces can be the right gift for them. The addition of multiple interactive elements can help transform the outdoor place into a paradise for the four-legged companion. Let’s sneak into its details.
What Does a Magical Pet-Friendly Garden Look Like?
The spark of happiness you spot in your pets’ eyes when they enter the garden determines how thoughtfully you’ve designed it. Pet-friendly gardening is beyond space aesthetics or the choice of plants. It’s the overall aura of the place absorbing various nature sounds that take away your and the pet buddy’s stress.
A pet-centric garden or outdoor space should feature a peaceful landscape that nurtures a deeper bond between you and your pet. Spending some relaxing time out there or indulging in activities like fetching, rolling on the grass, or fetching some sunlight is what really matters. If your pet pug is panting or wagging its tail with excitement or happiness, it means you’ve achieved the desired milestone.
Imagine having a small sanctuary behind your home with pet-safe plants, playing corners, tiny butterflies and you chilling out with your furry buddy! The thrill is fascinating, but there’s a lot of work to do before it. Let’s work on planning now.
Tips to Surprise Your Pet Companion with a Garden Paradise
Before we begin with the main steps to create the backyard oasis for your furry friend, below are the things to keep in mind:
- Consider their needs, choices, breed and activity level before finalizing the garden layout.
- Ensure ample open spaces where your canine buddies can curb their explorer instincts and roam around freely.
- Pets need physical and mental stimulation both to stay healthy, and the garden area should be their realm in which to cherish the wild vibes.
- A small sandpit for digging and a water pond for some splashing fun can surely make your puppy joyous and happy.
- Dedicate a small corner for your pets where they can soak into the sun or cherish the pleasant breeze during sunsets.
Things to Remember While Planning a Pet-Friendly Garden!
- Select Pet-Safe Plants
Not all plants, bushes, and flowers are favourable for your pet’s contact. Research and shortlist the top pet-safe plants to add to your garden that don’t harm your four-legged buddy. Zinnias, petunias, marigolds, and sunflowers are some of the incredible plants that beautify your garden and serve as an attraction to curious canines as well. They can freely morsel the plant sheds in the garden and cherish the vegetation.
- Strictly Refrain from Toxic Plants
Few plants might pose a life-threatening health concern or prove poisonous to your pet’s health. A typical list of such toxic plants consists of daffodils, tulips, azaleas and lilies. To ensure the utmost safety of your furry companions, carry out detailed research on the types of plants you can add to the garden space. Searching online for the toxic plant list or confirming the same with the local gardener can help you decide on which plants to grow and the ones to avoid with pets at home.
- Dedicate a Space for Digging Fun
Pets like to dog as it’s mentally stimulating for them. However, if they dig around anywhere in the garden, the overall landscape might get ruined. So, the better option is to define a digging space for them and train them for the same.
Install a sandbox or particular markings with loose soil inside so your furry friend knows their digging destination in the garden. It might sound not very easy at first, but training them with treats or toys can indeed prove beneficial. We recommend practising positive reinforcement techniques and discipline with the pets to make them dig at a certain spot.
- Pet-Safe Garden Boundaries
It is hard to set boundaries for the furry companions once they move out of the house. They tend to jump and hop over to the streets and busy roads, which makes them prone to accidents. If you are planning a small backyard oasis for pets, secure it with dense fencing or boundaries.
Seek advice from experts to choose pet-safe fences which don’t allow any passage for the pets to squeeze and move through them. It will also help restrict the entry of other strays or wild animals into your garden. The furry climbers are indeed great athletes, and pet parents should be aware of their agility while planning the fenced area.
- No Use of Harmful Chemicals
To ensure a completely pet-friendly garden, you have to refrain from using any type of herbicides, fertilizers, and pesticides, even if they support good plant growth. These ingredients consist of toxic elements that can lead to health hazards for your pets.
It is therefore advisable to prefer pet-safe alternatives and consider organic gardening, which proves to be pet-safe and is also great for environmental protection. Try out the natural ways of controlling weeds or pests and spread awareness of the same amongst others with pets around.
- Shading Provision to Relax
Like humans, even four-legged companions wish to find a cool spot in the backyard to relax and take a sound nap. Protecting them from extreme heat is also important to minimize the potential risks of heat stroke. Different ways to include a shaded area in your garden for pets are installing umbrellas, planting big trees, and designating comfy corners for the pets to relax.
- Fresh Water Provision
Pets need hydration while they spend time in the garden or outdoors, as this drains their energy levels. It is advisable to source water stations within the garden with a supply of fresh water suitable for drinking. Keeping a big water bowl or a stylish artificial pond with fresh water in it sounds like a good idea. Ensure the water storage in a shady area away from the impact of direct sunlight.
8. Comfortable Walking Paths
If you have an older canine companion at home, remember to keep a soft walking path for them in the garden. Older canines often suffer joint issues, and taking a stroll on the rough path can surge their level of discomfort.
So, try to choose a comfy walking path as it can elevate their experience in the garden area. Prefer options like wooden chips, artificial turf or mulch as it secures a better surface to comfort their paws. Pet owners can also consult their vet on recommendable walking paths for their pet’s health.
- Toys and Treats
Make your furry friends’ garden visits more enthralling by adorning their seating space with pet toys and treats. These toys also motivate pets to follow your commands and behave in a disciplined manner. Replace the toys every week to keep your furry friends’ interest intact.
- No Sharp Objects or Thorns Around
A pet-friendly garden must not include any plants or shrubs with sharp thorns that might harm dogs. Even if you have a water fountain in your garden, secure it with boundaries on all sides to prevent your pets from falling into these areas. Their safety must be a priority if you lay out any areas with dangerous or sharp objects.
- Add Entertainment Options
Keep up your pet’s excitement levels by luring them with multiple entertainment options in the garden area. Adding a few obstacle courses or toy tunnels can add thrill to their garden time. It can be exhilarating and enjoyable for your furry friends to be rewarded with their favourite treat after completing the treasure hunt.
- Pet Waste Management is a Must
Retaining the cleanliness and hygiene of the garden is possible only by discarding the pet waste at regular intervals. Pet waste lying unattended in the garden for days can be hazardous to the environment, humans, and even other animals or pets. Pet owners must make arrangements for its disposal and even include the composting process alongside. A fresh and clean garden is truly a haven for everyone.
Final Words- ‘Start Preparing a Pet-Friendly Garden Today!’
Nurtured with the best of nature’s bliss and equipped with all the facilities for your beloved pet’s comfort, the backyard garden is undoubtedly going to be your favourite spot. It is the place where you and your furry friend are definitely going to cherish a good time together.
Right from picking the pet-safe plants to adding multiple entertainment options, the thought you put in at every stage will surely be worth the outcomes.
So, what are you waiting for? Revise your garden layout and consider the abovementioned things to create a wonderful pet-centric open space right next to your abode. Kindly comment below for raising any queries or concerns.
Ready to amaze your pets with a Paw-Some Natural Environment around?
