How to Create a Dog-Friendly Garden

There are some people who would say dogs and gardens just don't mix. Many people believe it is impossible to create a dog-friendly garden, which also is visually appealing. However, this is not true! With a little extra effort and some careful planning you can create a garden space to be enjoyed by both you and your canine companion! Below are some tips from gardener and dog trainer, Cheryl Smith, author of "Dog friendly Gardens, Garden Friendly Dogs" to get you started.

• As you think about planning your garden, think about the personality of your dog. Try to plan the garden around the dog's personality rather than fighting its instincts. For example, if your dog's breed has a high prey drive - leave plenty of room for it to run between plants. In this situation, you would want to minimize the number of lawn ornaments, such as low fluttering windsocks, because your dog would interpret the movements of the ornaments as being similar to its prey and "attack". If you have a dog who likes to dig, leave an open spot for it to dig. Accepting these traits is much easier than trying to fight them!
• Think about making your garden a casual less formal space. If possible use different gradients to help you dog see the difference in landscaping. Mounding and raising flower beds and using walls of perennials will help give your dog visual cues about the landscape. If you dog has "paths" going through the yard, use them in your garden planning. Instead of planting flowers to "hide" Rover's path to the tree, think about putting paving stones over it and accenting it. By doing so, the path remains accessible to your dog but becomes more visually pleasing to you.
• Appreciating gardens is not innate to dogs. Remember no matter how much you invest in landscaping, a small shrub still looks like a stick to a dog. Buying bigger shrubs and trees will make them seem less stick-like and more tree-like. Plants such as dwarf evergreens, lilacs, and butterfly bush as fairly hardy and withstand some dog abuse.
• Dogs do not understand the delicacy of flowers and other blooming plants. As you choose plants for your garden, look for hardy varieties. Many ornamental grasses, coneflowers, sage and asters can hold up to a dog's wear-and-tear. Smith suggests planting them close to form a natural barrier to keep dogs at bay. If you enjoy more delicate species of plants, consider planting them in containers which can be moved out of areas where dogs can easily access them.
• Be careful with bulb plants, such as lilies and tulips! Plant them in containers or areas where dogs do not have free access. If a dog sees you plant them, the dog may curious and dig them up and many bulb garden plants are toxic to animals.
• If you want to create a separate spot for your dog to use as a "bathroom" choose a secluded area and create a boundary around it. You can use sand, cedar bark or gravel on the surface. Remember, you will have to "teach" your dog to use the area - even if they have chosen the spot as a potty location, if you re-surface it you will need to encourage Rover to use it again.
• Dogs use urine to mark their territory and their urine is strong in nitrogen. Unless you are able to dilute the place where your dog urinates within eight hours of the occurrence, you run the risk of the urine "burning" your lawn and leaving a yellowed area on your grass. If this occurs, you will need to re-seed the area and keep the dog away from it.

Most importantly, remember gardens and dogs are both meant to be fun! You will find by accepting your dog's personality traits and incorporating them into your garden space you will have a unique outdoor area that can be enjoyed by all members of the family!