For most people, pets are family. And as much as you love your fury baby, they could cause you minimal problems sometimes. For instance, they can lose control of their playfulness and damage furniture and decor.
Some homeowners also find it challenging to keep their gardens beautiful with animals running around and playing like kids. Don’t get us wrong, we love animals, but as mentioned, they can be a bit of a problem if not appropriately trained.
So how are you going to maintain your garden without sacrificing your pet? That is what this article is all about. We’re going to discuss some tips that would help you keep your garden unique and how to make sure that your pet won’t ruin anything.
Teach your pet as young as possible
The earlier you teach your pet about off-limits areas, the better. If you think that you can’t train puppies, that’s where you’re wrong. It’s better to teach them while they are still young cause they will remember everything you taught them as they grow.
Don’t leave your pet unattended
Understandably, dogs like to play around. And if they didn’t get proper training, they could damage your plants and garden. If this is the case, allow them to play in your garden but never leave them alone. They will most likely avoid tearing up your perfect lawn if they know that you’re watching.
Teach Obedience
Like kids, dogs can learn obedience too. At first, you can teach them basic things like stand, sit, rollover, and stay. Over time, they will know other tricks, depending on how diligent you are in teaching.
Friendly tip: Large dogs are perfect garden companions. As long as they know how to behave themselves, they can provide security to shoo away uninvited animals.
Give them their own space
Ideally, pets need their own outdoor space, too, where they can be free and play whenever they want to. Giving them their space will teach them that they can’t play in the garden. You can ask your landscape pavers to create paths and large areas for your pets by maximizing your whole backyard.
Set up a gate
Setting up a separate gate for your garden is an effective way to keep your dogs out too. Make sure to put a padlock on the gate so stray animals and playful kids from the neighborhood won’t get in too.
Let them play in the deck
If you have a busy day ahead and don’t have the time to watch your pets play in the garden, you can let them stay on the deck. Decks are usually large areas where animals can play without supervision. Just don’t forget to install a railing for their safety.
Give them toys
Boredom is the main reason why dogs get out and play. You can prevent them from playing in your garden by giving them toys to play with. Ensure that their toys are within their reach and are not stashed in hidden areas so that they can play anytime they wish.
Provide water
It’s easy for dogs to get hot, especially during summer. Make sure that you have bowls of water around the garden to prevent dehydration. Plus, depending on the design and size, dog bowls can double as pieces of garden art.
Given them shelter
Even though you allow your dog to enter the house, it would still be best to provide a dog house. Dogs have feelings and emotions too, and when they don’t feel well, they prefer to spend a few minutes alone in a safe space.
They will either choose to hide in your garden or somewhere unsafe for them. So for your peace of mind and your dog’s safety, provide a house that they can retreat to whenever they want.
Grow big plants
Typically, dogs would avoid big and plants. So growing large plants is ideal for keeping your dogs out of the garden and keeping everything aesthetic. Not sure what to put in your garden? Here are some beautiful plants that you can try:
- Bamboo
- Roses
- Barberries
- Euphorbia
- Joe Pye weed
Use a container
Sometimes, no matter how hard you try to keep everything in order, your dogs will always find a way to play in your garden. And if none of the tips above have worked, you can try container gardening.
Put your more precious plants and flowers in containers so your dog won’t be able to damage them. What’s great about using containers is that you can transfer your plants to different garden areas. You can even put them inside your home occasionally.
As you can see, caring for a pet and gardening is possible as long as you know how to handle things. It’s all about training your pet and providing the things they need. In addition, giving your garden an extra layer of protection, such as gates and fences, could also help to keep your pets away from the plants.