Category: Pet

A great case of stewardship is that of those who both share the love for nature and animals. You see, it’s not unusual to find people who take time to tend their gardens and care for their cat litter, but that is not an easy thing to do. One could compromise the other in many way, and although difficult, is not impossible to achieve in balance.

With some resourcefulness and ingenuity, you’ll find yourself working with both your pets and plants with much ease. You might even find this challenge eventually therapeutic. So, if we got you interested in such an activity, read on to learn more about what you have to do create a pet-friendly garden.

Choosing Fertilizers and Mulches

By nature, fertilizers have a smell that is appealing to dogs, so be cautious of the ingredients included in the mix. We suggest using liquid fertilizer, or wood mulches, preferably pine, root, and wood bark. Avoid ingredients like chicken or fish meals, by-products and poultry feathers, as these strongly attract the sense of smell of your pets. Chances are they will dig up the plots and possibly ingest these, then eventually upset their stomachs.

Pet-Friendly Fences

Although the purpose of fences is to establish a physical boundary between two adjacent areas, your dog still considers anywhere near your fence as their property. This will cause them to look out at passers-by and might even try to get out.

At this point, it may be ideal to use a sturdier fence. Another option could be to have the fence be made of a clear or transparent material. This is for the reason that your pet will want to see what’s on the other side, and if they can see from afar, it may dissuade them from further investigation.

Creating Boundaries and Clearances

Consider the edges of your planting mounds as extensions of the walking path, especially for your pets. Dogs particularly don’t hold mind walking on various kinds of surfaces, and they won’t mind stepping on your plants as well. With that, don’t plant near the edges and allow clearances by adding in some landscaping; for example, lining the walkway with pebbles or stones.

Monkey See, Monkey Do.

When your pets see you digging up dirt and moving one plant after another, they will be more inclined to do it as well. That is why some dogs made it a habit to dig their paws onto the dirt just for fun. For this fact, we suggest that you keep your pet indoors for the majority of your gardening, especially when you’re doing some repotting.

Dog Pit

A great solution to this would be to provide a designated lawn or area where your pets can go digging whenever they feel the need. You can orient them towards this habit by digging the dirt alongside them.

Ultimately, balancing a love for both a garden and a pet is not at all that outrageous. However, it does require a certain amount of dedication and a whole lot of time management. It will as well require much of your attention – with your pets needing more attention than your plants, of course. Still, it is known that caring something besides yourself is a great practice of empathy, and we hope you may find joy in such an activity. We wish you a fun and challenging weekend!