Regular readers of my features will know, only too well, that we have had a dog throughout the time we have been living in Sussex, over 20 years now. Soon after we moved in, we adopted a lovely Jack Russell from Battersea Dogs Home. Albert was about 2 when he came to Sussex and he was at home from the moment he first ran around the garden.
When he sadly passed away in 2019, we lasted a mere 6 weeks before we adopted the gorgeous Chester, a mixed breed terrier, who came all the way from The Azores.
In the early days of creating the garden at Driftwood, and, to be honest since, I have not focussed too much on the harmony needed, between maintaining a garden neat and tidy enough to open to the public, alongside owning a dog. That said we have been incredibly lucky. Neither Albert or Chester have been the least bit destructive around the plot.
Nowadays I suppose, in hindsight, we tend to think more about how to make our gardens safe and fun for our pets.
Some tips I’ve picked up along the way to create a paw-fect garden paradise are as follows:
A pet-proof, strong and secure fence.
In order to adopt a dog from both Battersea and the Sussex charity we got Chester through, it was a pre requisite of the contract between us, that the garden was secure, indeed they physically checked this before we could adopt. A good fence can help keep your pet safe in the garden, but do make sure it’s in good repair. Your pet might be able to squeeze through any gaps or holes and go on an unwanted adventure unless you fully secure the area.
Your fence needs to be tall enough that your pet can’t jump over it. Remember that dogs might be able to dig under your fence, so check regularly for escape tunnels. A good fence will also help to keep out predators like foxes. This will help to keep small pets safe.
Luckily, I replaced all the boundaries in my garden not long after we moved in and all are 6 feet tall.
In my case, a strong and secure boundary also applies to our tortoise, Hector. Prior to securing the garden boundaries he did make his escape and was gone for a week before a neighbour rang up to say she thought he was in her garden and we speedily retrieved him.
Poo patrol
If you have cats and dogs, it’s important to clear up any poo you might find in the garden. It’s good to let them go to the toilet when they need to, but leaving poo lying around could cause health problems for other pets or humans in your home. Kitty visitors might also leave poo presents mixed into the soil, so always remember to wash your hands after gardening. I certainly experience that problem in my beach garden, as next-door’s cat uses it frequently as a toilet!
Avoid poisonous plants.
I’m not sure I realised in the beginning that some of our most common garden plants are actually really toxic to pets. I now make sure I fully check to see if a plant is pet-safe before growing it in the garden. Whilst we are advised to avoid the following, daffodils, crocuses, tulips, azaleas and lilies, they are some of the prettiest plants and I do have some, but take care to put them in containers and out of harms reach, so far so good!
Pet-friendly paths and areas
Paved paths are best for pets because stones and gravel can hurt their feet or get stuck between their paws. Some dogs might pick up stones and accidentally swallow them too. Paved paths can also help keep your pet’s nails nice and short by naturally wearing them down and this can save you grappling with your buddy to trim their claws.
Pets can easily overheat on warmer days so it’s a good idea to make sure there are plenty of shady spots for them to relax in. Trees and large shrubs create great shade but you can also set up shelters or drape sheets over the end of an exercise run for smaller pets. As far as Chester is concerned, any seat under an umbrella has got his name on in hot weather, or better still, a human’s lap. Failing that there are lots of plants to sit beneath.
Something I have not found the need to create is a dedicated digging spot. Neither Chester or Albert have ever started digging things up in the garden. I don’t have lawn which helps. That said, it can be a pain if they’re constantly digging up your borders or ruining your perfectly landscaped lawn. An idea would be to try giving your dog a ‘dig-pit’, which is an area of soil that’s just for them to dig in. It could be in the border, in a large plant pot or child’s sand pit. Encourage pets to dig in this spot and give them plenty of treats and praise when they do it right.
Natural pest control
Pests like slugs and snails can be the bane of a gardener’s life but remember that many chemicals and pesticides are also extremely toxic to pets and other wildlife. It is always kinder to avoid using them if you can.
I’m always asked by visitors how my three large containers of hostas remain slug free. Placing gravel over the compost in the pot works well for me and I place the pot on a moat to prevent slugs and snails crossing over. Some natural alternatives I’ve come across are, crushed egg shells which help keep slugs and snails away from your plants. You can use humane traps which can help to get rid of mice and rats without using poison. And don’t forget if you are lucky enough to have them, hedgehogs and birds will gobble up slugs, snails and other insects. You can attract birds with a bird feeder and encourage hedgehogs to visit by creating places for them to sleep and safe routes into and out of your garden.
Happy gardening.
