Your garden is a place for you to enjoy the outdoors and is an oasis for your pets to explore. Keeping your furry friends safe while preserving your peaceful garden can be challenging. Here are 11 ways to keep your pets safe from your garden and your garden safe from your pets.
1. Install a Fence
You want your pets to enjoy your garden without getting on a neighbor’s property or into an unsafe area. Installing a fence is an easy solution for protecting your pet and garden. There are many options out there. You want to fence strong enough to withstand your pet jumping up on it, deep enough to prevent them from going under and with gaps too small to get through.
A chain link or panel fence lets you see your pet inside. A privacy fence keeps your dog from seeing people and critters on the other side and prevents strangers from seeing in your garden.
Another option is an invisible fence system that keeps your garden open but uses noise or vibration to keep your pet inside a barrier.
2. Remove Toxic Plants
Many plants that look gorgeous in your garden but are toxic to your animals. Your pets could chew on their leaves or petals, causing illness or death. Some of the plants poisonous to dogs and cats include:
- Daffodils
- Bluebells
- Tulips
- Crocuses
- Fungi
- Acorns
By keeping toxic plants out of your garden, you can ensure your pets are safe regardless of what they choose to munch on. If you decide to have poisonous plants, keep them in a secure area your furry friends can’t get into. By selecting low-maintenance plants, you can also prevent the need to use fertilisers that could harm you or your pets frequently.
3. Keep Concrete Areas Shaded
Concrete is a popular option for porches, decks and walkways. However, they could harm your pet if you don’t have shade. When the sun shines on concrete, it heats it to a higher temperature than the surrounding area. Your pet’s paw pads contain many nerve endings that allow them to navigate safely. They’re also sensitive to hot and cold temperatures.
Humans wear shoes, so we don’t always realise when our concrete is hot. However, a warm summer day could cause your pet’s paws to get burned, causing extreme pain. When you have shade, you can reduce the temperature of the concrete, eliminating potential discomfort. Place the back of your bare hand against the surface if you want to test your concrete. If the temperature is uncomfortable for you, it also is for your pet.
4. Use Pet-Friendly Solutions
Fertilisers and other treatments can keep your lawn healthy and strong. However, chemical treatments could make your pets sick. Watch out for organic matter containing fungi. It’s always important to research when choosing the products you use in your garden. Some items are safe but require your pets to stay away for a few hours so they can disperse and dry.
You can also create your all-natural solutions. Eggshells, coffee grounds and green tea are some products around your home that can safely nourish your gardens without harming your animals.
5. Secure Your Garbage
A garbage bag is a tempting treat for wildlife and your pets. You might be unable to smell the food you throw away, but your dog or cat’s sensitive nose likely can. If you leave your garbage at the side of your garden before pickup day, it might be a prime location for your pup or kitten to dig their teeth into your leftovers.
Keeping your bags secure can keep you from having trash scattered around your garden. Please place them in a sealed can or keep them behind a fence or shed.
6. Scratch-Proof Your Wood
Claws can do a number on wood, composite and concrete. If you have a pet that likes to scratch or whose nails grow fast, it’s best to protect your deck & garden bed. Waxing your lumber can make navigating easy for your pet without using their claws for traction.
Sealing concrete can help prevent their claws from scratching it. Composites are relatively scratch-resistant, but you can decrease the chance of damage by covering high-traffic areas with outdoor rugs.
7. Plant Hardy Grass
It’s natural for dogs to do their business outside, but their urine can damage your grass. Yellow grass is a plight of many dog owners. When your dog digests their food, they produce a type of nitrogen called urea. While a small amount of nitrogen scattered around your garden can fertilise it, your dog’s heavy concentration when relieving themselves, can kill it.
The good news is that some grass options are hardy enough to withstand your dog’s needs and stay green.
Ryegrass and fescue are known for staying healthy through high nitrogen concentrations. You can also treat your grass to help it resist the damage from dog urine, letting your puppy go where they desire.
8. Choose Decor Wisely
You know your pet best, and it’s important to consider their preferences when choosing your garden decor. If your dog or cat likes to tear up cushions, consider tying them down or choosing tight weaves that are hard to break through.
Try not to place anything easily breakable in areas your pet likes to wander. Supervise them around glass items and try to place them where they can’t reach by jumping. If you don’t want your pet to get into it, it’s best to keep it away from them.
9. Create a Designated Play Zone
A designated play area could be just the thing you need to discourage your dog from roaming around your garden. Choose a part of your yard a good distance away from your plants and set up the perfect dog zone — think toys, water bowls, outdoor pet loungers and other pup favorites.
You could even consider installing a dog tether so your pet can run and play while limiting how far they can reach.
10. Remove Bird Baths or Feeders
Birds can be enjoyable to watch, and having a bird bath or feeder in your garden are easy ways to attract them. They are also fun for your dog and cat to try and catch. When you encourage birds to hang around, you increase the chance of your pet stirring up trouble.
If you have a skilled hunter, they might make your yard a crime scene. If they’re not, their efforts could ruin your landscape.
11. Your Pet and Water Features
If you have a pond or fountain in your garden, keeping your pets away from it is best. Many dog breeds love to splash around, but even those that don’t may get curious. There are many benefits of being around water. It offers many mental health benefits, but it might be counterintuitive if your pet is constantly disturbing it.
Fencing around the area or placing your feature out of reach can save your feature and prevent your animals from accidents.
Keeping Your Garden and Pets Safe
Your garden should be an oasis for you and your pets. Keeping it nice while preserving your pet’s safety is possible with the right steps.
Rose Morrison is a home living writer with over five years experience writing in the industry. She is the managing editor of Renovated.com and loves to cover home renovations and decor to inspire everyone to live their best DIY life. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find her baking something to satisfy her never-ending sweet tooth.