Landscaping with Furred and Feathered Friends

Here at the Seed Landscape Design Studio we love our pets. They really are much loved members of our family. Here are just a few tips on prevention and cure for some typical issues pet owners will encounter. Please feel free to add yours to the conversation at the end!

Aside from providing you with lovely fresh eggs every morning and keeping bugs to a minimum, chickens have wonderful personalities with a great love for your garden. They don’t intend to be destructive yet between scratching around for worms, making lovely dust baths and nibbling on your finest plants…it just sort of goes pear-shaped. To prevent complete devastation of your garden and/or veggie patch you can put up some poultry netting - it’s quick and easy to do. Alternatively, only let your chickens out for a short while at the end of the day. This way they won’t have time to range too far and dig too much before putting themselves in for the night.

If you have a Houdini kitty that likes to escape the house be aware that they will most likely mark their territory, aka your garden. Our feline friends can’t resist a good looking sandpit so if you can, cover the pit up when not in use to prevent unsavoury surprises.

Puppies and dogs like to chew. EVERYTHING. Including your plants. Chili powder or pepper will curb their enthusiasm and the puppy will eventually learn to not chew your plants. You can try this on your socks, too, if you find that your new best friend has taken a liking to the treasures within your sock drawer.

With all of the running around dogs have a tendency to create tracks in the yard. To allow regeneration try laying down some large stones. They are bit harder on the paws, slowing your pup down, and may provide some momentary relief for the garden.

Is someone digging holes? Turn a negative into a positive - shovel some of their droppings into the holes before filling them in. Not only do you strategically remove the droppings from the lawn, you will also deter your four-legged family member from digging there again. On that topic, adding dog rocks to the garden neutralises the acidity in your pooch’s pee so it won’t burn grass and cause yellowing.

When it comes to puppies and dogs the level of boredom is somewhat directly related to the level of landscape destruction. They will bark, chew, dig holes and play tug ‘o war with your washing hanging from the line. The more time you can spend with them going for walks and playing in the park the less likely they are to burn their energy in ways that you may not appreciate.

Moses In The Cradle

Remember, also, that certain plants can be toxic to your pets. A common plant to look out for is Moses In the Cradle, a member of the Rhoeo species. It can cause skin allergies to your dog simply by being brushed against. It’s a beautiful, popular, tropical plant that might need careful placement to minimise the chances of contact with your dog and reduce allergic reactions. Take care to note what plants are in your yard and check with a reliable source, such as your vet, if you have any concerns about the toxicity of certain shrubs.

We would love to know what pets you have and what mischief they cause in your garden! Share with us below any hints and tips you have for minimising backyard chaos from our furry and feathered friends!

Images: 1 KRiemer, 2 MableAmber, 3 Sevenpixx 4 Pixabay.com, 5 Daylilies In Australia, 5 Violetta, 6 Pixel-mixer, 7 JACLOU-DL