Landscape Design
Protecting Your Pet From Your Yard and Your Yard From Your Pet
Check out these tricks from vets and landscape designers for keeping your pets and plantings safe in the backyard
Protecting Your Pet
Give them shade. Many dogs like sunbathing just as much as we do, but they aren’t equipped to handle it in the same way. Overheating is a real and potentially deadly risk for dogs (one reason so many states have adopted hot car laws in recent years). Keeping them indoors on hot days and making sure there’s a cool, shady spot with plenty of water in the yard on the days when they do play outside is vital.
Give them shade. Many dogs like sunbathing just as much as we do, but they aren’t equipped to handle it in the same way. Overheating is a real and potentially deadly risk for dogs (one reason so many states have adopted hot car laws in recent years). Keeping them indoors on hot days and making sure there’s a cool, shady spot with plenty of water in the yard on the days when they do play outside is vital.
Keep disease-carrying bugs at bay. If left untreated, a bite from a tick, mosquito or other backyard insect could have potentially scary consequences for a pet — think Lyme disease, which can spread to the heart and nervous system, or heartworm, which can block the flow of blood to major organs.
Experts suggest creating a wood chip or gravel barrier separating patios and lawns and any wooded areas, keeping grass short and storing soft outdoor furniture cushions where it’s harder for the pests to hide in them.
See 5 tick safeguards for your yard
Experts suggest creating a wood chip or gravel barrier separating patios and lawns and any wooded areas, keeping grass short and storing soft outdoor furniture cushions where it’s harder for the pests to hide in them.
See 5 tick safeguards for your yard
The oils in lemon balm, shown here, and other plants naturally repel insects.
Beware of pesticides and poisons. Veterinarian Tina Wismer, medical director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Animal Poison Control Center and a master gardener with the American Horticultural Society, says homeowners with pets should be particularly wary of insecticidal lawn treatments and herbicides, which have been linked to higher bladder cancer rates in dogs.
“Insecticidal treatments can work for both ticks and fleas, but make sure to follow the label directions,” Wismer says. “There will be instructions for how long to keep your pet off the treated areas.”
Natural insect-repelling alternatives, like cedar chips and some garden plants like pet-safe lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), shown here, or even catnip (Nepeta cataria), might deter dangerous bugs as well.
Beware of pesticides and poisons. Veterinarian Tina Wismer, medical director of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals’ Animal Poison Control Center and a master gardener with the American Horticultural Society, says homeowners with pets should be particularly wary of insecticidal lawn treatments and herbicides, which have been linked to higher bladder cancer rates in dogs.
“Insecticidal treatments can work for both ticks and fleas, but make sure to follow the label directions,” Wismer says. “There will be instructions for how long to keep your pet off the treated areas.”
Natural insect-repelling alternatives, like cedar chips and some garden plants like pet-safe lemon balm (Melissa officinalis), shown here, or even catnip (Nepeta cataria), might deter dangerous bugs as well.
Be on guard for predators. Depending on where you live and what kind of pet you have, outside wildlife like coyotes or snakes could be a concern. Veterinarians say the best way to protect cats from these and other types of threats is to keep them indoors at all times. Additionally, some recommend fence-top rollers, or cylinders that roll so an animal can’t get a foothold, as they can make it harder for coyotes to hop some fences.
Keeping outdoor grills clean and storing dog food inside also gives intruders less reason to be sniffing around. If you live in a snake-prone region, areas where rodents might congregate also are areas the reptiles can rely on for a meal. Keep tall grasses trimmed and wood piles closer to the house.
Keeping outdoor grills clean and storing dog food inside also gives intruders less reason to be sniffing around. If you live in a snake-prone region, areas where rodents might congregate also are areas the reptiles can rely on for a meal. Keep tall grasses trimmed and wood piles closer to the house.
Know your plants. Azaleas (Rhododendron spp), like the ones shown here, may add a pop of color to your garden, but they can also cause cardiac failure in dogs and cats. Even if your pet isn’t typically a leaf eater, do your research before you get planting, and if you’ve got a curious puppy at home, make sure you know the names of all the plants in your yard, Wismer advises, in case you need to report back to a vet when he or she gets sick. A full list of toxic plants can be found on the ASPCA’s site.
See 22 plants to keep away from pets
See 22 plants to keep away from pets
Photo by Marufish
Lose the mushrooms.“Mushrooms are a big deal and you need to keep an eye out,” says Portland, Oregon-based landscape designer Carol Lindsay of Landscape Design in a Day. “They might be fine and they really might not be.”
Lindsay, who has designed many dog-friendly landscapes over the years, recommends removing and disposing of any mushrooms in the yard as soon as you spot them; use an inside-out baggie, as you would with dog waste. Though some mushrooms are technically safe, Lindsay and Wismer say it’s not worth the risk to have either variety sprouting up like the shiitake on the log shown here. “It can be difficult to tell the toxic from the nontoxic, so removing them is the best route,” Wismer says.
Lose the mushrooms.“Mushrooms are a big deal and you need to keep an eye out,” says Portland, Oregon-based landscape designer Carol Lindsay of Landscape Design in a Day. “They might be fine and they really might not be.”
Lindsay, who has designed many dog-friendly landscapes over the years, recommends removing and disposing of any mushrooms in the yard as soon as you spot them; use an inside-out baggie, as you would with dog waste. Though some mushrooms are technically safe, Lindsay and Wismer say it’s not worth the risk to have either variety sprouting up like the shiitake on the log shown here. “It can be difficult to tell the toxic from the nontoxic, so removing them is the best route,” Wismer says.
Invest in gates and fences. There are a variety of styles available for fencing in a yard as a dog-friendly run zone, but regardless of what style of fencing or gate goes up, Lindsay stresses the importance of finding one that you can trust will keep your pets from getting out and keep other hazards from getting in. “Spend good money on the hinges and the latch for your gate,” Lindsay says. “Don’t cheap out, because you want that gate to work like a perfectly engineered piece of machinery.”
Trim your trees. Lindsay points out that broken tree limbs should be addressed for everyone’s safety, but especially a pet’s. “The only time you really notice it is when the tree’s still bare, and you know, summer comes along and all the foliage grows in and you can’t even see it anymore, but now it’s heavier, and it’s going to fall,” she says. “It probably is going to miss everybody, but the dog is in the backyard more than you are.”
Protecting Your Yard
Minimize the mud. Working in Portland, Lindsay says heavy rainfall means backyard mud is the most common issue pet-owner clients want to address. In some cases, there’s not much to be done, she says. “If your dog is a larger dog or young and loves to pound around the backyard, give it up,” she says. “People don’t give it up. People don’t give it up, they work with these grasses, they fertilize it, they do all this stuff and they’re never, ever going to win.”
Otherwise, Lindsay recommends playground-grade cedar chips, a combination of water-permeable pavers and plants like those shown here, or a synthetic alternative. “Synthetic lawns are so much better than they were,” she says. You can also install a dog-washing station to keep the mud outdoors (or at least down the drain).
See how to install a dog-wash station
Minimize the mud. Working in Portland, Lindsay says heavy rainfall means backyard mud is the most common issue pet-owner clients want to address. In some cases, there’s not much to be done, she says. “If your dog is a larger dog or young and loves to pound around the backyard, give it up,” she says. “People don’t give it up. People don’t give it up, they work with these grasses, they fertilize it, they do all this stuff and they’re never, ever going to win.”
Otherwise, Lindsay recommends playground-grade cedar chips, a combination of water-permeable pavers and plants like those shown here, or a synthetic alternative. “Synthetic lawns are so much better than they were,” she says. You can also install a dog-washing station to keep the mud outdoors (or at least down the drain).
See how to install a dog-wash station
Cut down on digging. Digging is another tricky behavior to combat, especially for certain breeds, but there are a few options to try if you’d prefer your lawn hole-free, Lindsay says. Some dogs will use sand-filled digging forts. Lindsay says she recently set up a basic fort out of a kiddie pool and sand for a client’s dig-prone German shepherd.
“I’m sure he’s going to tear it to smithereens, but we’re going to start him out with that and see if he uses it,” she says. Eventually she says she envisions they’ll use either a large round agricultural watering trough or an octagonal wood structure that comes up 20 to 24 inches “to try to catch some of the sand that he digs out.” Wismer also recommends trying a soft sand play area for digging dogs.
“I’m sure he’s going to tear it to smithereens, but we’re going to start him out with that and see if he uses it,” she says. Eventually she says she envisions they’ll use either a large round agricultural watering trough or an octagonal wood structure that comes up 20 to 24 inches “to try to catch some of the sand that he digs out.” Wismer also recommends trying a soft sand play area for digging dogs.
Consider your pet’s view. For a yard that’s free of your neighbors’ lingering scorn, Lindsay says knowing your dog’s barking triggers, and adjusting accordingly with yard features, can make a big difference. Namely, knowing whether your pet likes to be able to see things or if that aggravates him or her.
“Several times we have made something where they can either get on a boulder or get up on top of their doghouse so that they can look into the backyard of your neighbors,” Lindsay says. “And you don’t want this really close to the fence because that can be unnerving if there’s this dog looking at you right in your eye while you eat your dinner. It needs to be back a ways, but let them see. Because some dogs will bark less if they can see and some dogs will bark less if they cannot see.”
The same factors can help you decide whether to get a solid fence or one with openings for a pet to peek out, she says.
How to choose the right fence
“Several times we have made something where they can either get on a boulder or get up on top of their doghouse so that they can look into the backyard of your neighbors,” Lindsay says. “And you don’t want this really close to the fence because that can be unnerving if there’s this dog looking at you right in your eye while you eat your dinner. It needs to be back a ways, but let them see. Because some dogs will bark less if they can see and some dogs will bark less if they cannot see.”
The same factors can help you decide whether to get a solid fence or one with openings for a pet to peek out, she says.
How to choose the right fence
Create a perimeter path. Just as some dogs do better when they have an unobstructed view, some dogs want to patrol right along the yard’s perimeter. Lindsay suggests not putting plants in that area if you have a perimeter dog, and you might even create a path so the dog’s pacing doesn’t kick up too much mud or dust. When there are other dogs in neighboring yards drawing your dog to the fence, this can be especially helpful.
Guard the grass. Dog urine has long wreaked havoc on grass. If you happen to be outside with your dog whenever he or she goes to the bathroom, immediately watering the patch of lawn can dilute the damage. If that’s not realistic, training the dog to only relieve him or herself in a more concealed section of the yard is another option, as is installing a small patch of synthetic lawn for that purpose specifically.
If you’re set on grass, Lindsay says she’s seen fewer issues with heartier grass varieties like tall fescue, shown here. Fencing off that section of the lawn, if possible, for several months while the sod or seed takes hold can give the grass an even better shot. “If you get it just really solid like that you’re just never going to have a problem,” she says. “The root system is more like a succulent. Regular grass is like little threads of root and this grass has these big fat roots that hold water.”
Once a thick enough carpet of grass has grown in, Lindsay says, your dog should be able to enjoy your yard as much as you do. Though you might want to switch up your go-to fetch trajectory to keep the blades looking their best: “When you throw the ball for the dog, throw it in different areas,” Lindsay says. “It’s so natural for you to go that 45-degree angle because it’s the longest your dog can run, and you’ll just wear a path right into that part of your lawn.”
Once a thick enough carpet of grass has grown in, Lindsay says, your dog should be able to enjoy your yard as much as you do. Though you might want to switch up your go-to fetch trajectory to keep the blades looking their best: “When you throw the ball for the dog, throw it in different areas,” Lindsay says. “It’s so natural for you to go that 45-degree angle because it’s the longest your dog can run, and you’ll just wear a path right into that part of your lawn.”
Tell us: How do you keep your yard and your pets healthy? Tell us in the Comments!
More
5 Tick Safeguards for Your Yard15 Outdoor Pet Projects You’ll Lap Up
Pet’s Place: Custom Catio Built for a Cute and Curious Kitty
More
5 Tick Safeguards for Your Yard15 Outdoor Pet Projects You’ll Lap Up
Pet’s Place: Custom Catio Built for a Cute and Curious Kitty
Before you settle into your lawn chair, here are some professional-approved backyard protection pointers to keep everyone, and everything, happy and healthy.