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Planning an Animal-Friendly Garden: Part 1
Posted by Elizabeth Bublitz at 5:03 AM | Permalink | Comments (12)
Don’t let the cool weather fool you! It’s not too early to think about planning your animal-friendly garden for spring. Spring will be here in no time, so now is actually the perfect time to plan.
As the creator of an animal-friendly landscape company, I’m always asked, “How do I keep my dogs out of the garden?” I like to add a unique twist to this challenge by asking instead how to invite them into the garden. That is, how can we create vegetable gardens for our animal companions?
This is the first in a series of posts that I will write here over the winter about making your gardens animal-friendly and getting ready for spring! Despite the fact that I’m discussing vegetable gardens, these rules apply to all types of gardens–rose, perennial, shrub, cut flower, and butterfly-attracting gardens as well as annual/bulb beds, etc.
The first step is to determine where to install the proposed garden. It’s best to locate vegetables in a sunny place, an area that gets at least four to five hours of sun. The shape of vegetable gardens tend to be square or rectangular, but other gardens, such as shrubs and perennials, are more interesting when they have an organic shape to them, such as a kidney bean or amoeba. Locating the area is very important: Every gardener, including yours truly, has his or her stories of trial and error in the garden. Gardening can be very aggravating at times, but it’s also rewarding.
When I created my first vegetable garden, I unknowingly put it on a north face. None of the plants got much sun. I couldn’t understand why most of my crops were stretching (they were reaching for the sun!) and hardly yielding vegetables. I thought it had to do with me or the soil. The next year, I was at the local nursery telling the associate about my terrible first year with vegetables. His first question was, “What kind of sun exposure did they get?” When I told him, he smiled as if there were still hope and suggested a southern or western exposure. I had to relocate my vegetable garden to a sunny place. That was a lot of work that could have been avoided had I planned better. After I got his advice, I had a bumper crop! If you only have a north- or east-facing garden, plant some cool crops, such as carrots, broccoli, or leafy vegetables, which can withstand a shadier place and be started as early as March. Some other garden types, such as perennial or shrub gardens, can also tolerate partial sun. Regardless, be sure to know the sun exposures for your plants. Learn from my experience: It’s easier to do it right the first time!
Vegetables, like roses and annuals, also need plenty of food (fertilizer) and water, so it’s best to establish the garden near a spigot or water source. Since the garden is also for your dog, it needs to be level with the ground with open access.
So put on a sweater, bundle up, and take a walk around your yard to look for that perfect spot. Take your dog with you and see what he or she thinks about your selection–and be sure to come back here and share your ideas and questions. Let’s get these gardens in gear for next year!
In my next post, I will talk about ways that you can prepare your soil over the winter.
Posted to Home & Garden | Posted to Tags: companion animals, dog, Elizabeth Bublitz, gardening
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kerry says...
November 11th, 2008, 10:36 am
How wonderful to have a professional garden landscaper among us. welcome welcome welcome. While my neighbors are grumbling about all the raking, and the bagging, and the hauling off of leaves, I am happy to be bagging up all the leaves I can for FREE MULCH for next year’s garden.
Amy says...
November 11th, 2008, 2:58 pm
What great information to have! Can’t wait to start plotting out next year’s garden! Thanks for the great info!
Lori Cavanaugh says...
November 11th, 2008, 3:01 pm
CONGRATS!! Your Famous!
Lori Cavanaugh says...
November 11th, 2008, 3:03 pm
CONGRATS!! Your Famous!
Angel, our Great Pyrenees, Is digging to China,
It would be nice If she struck oil, but until then,
HELP!!
Cheryl Valdez says...
November 11th, 2008, 3:10 pm
I love your book, Lish. It is a fantastic resource for people. I especially appreciate your advice on using natural and pet friendly products. Since Kellen is both blind and deaf…I took a proactive approach to eliminating any shrubs and bushes that may potentially harm him (ex. sharp thorns on rose bushes etc.). The flag stone border in my back yard helps Kellen know where he is so he doesn’t run into anything. Thanks!!
jack says...
November 11th, 2008, 3:21 pm
I love my dogs - I didn’t realize somebody creates yards for them. How refreshing! My dog cut himself on edging, it cost me thousands of dollars and he’s still not walking on it correctly. I hope you blog about dangerous edging, Id like to know what is available for dogs - look forward to it! - Jack and my four dogs - Trooper, Hedger, Cameo and Herman
Carol Vogel says...
November 11th, 2008, 3:47 pm
I am planning on having a live fir tree in my house for Christmas? What are the after Christmas things I need to do to plant the tree in my yard after Christmas?
Maggie says...
November 15th, 2008, 8:14 pm
I live in Florida and can garden all year. I own 3 dogs, one digs, what can I do for that? I am his 4th home, he has had many behavior problems and gets anxious very easily. He’s left holes everywhere and I want a pretty yard. Any advise?
Elizabeth says...
November 17th, 2008, 3:45 pm
Hi Jack: Unsafe edging is such a problem in backyards. Many owners have no idea how their dog hurt himself - they let him out and then he comes back in with a cut paw! It’s terrible. The types of edging you want to use are roll top, plastics, brick or stripstone. Stay away from steel edging that needs a safety cap - the caps always pop off and can cut a paw very badly. Good luck, I hope you enjoy my blogs - let me know if you have any other questions or concerns! Have fun and get dirty!
- Elizabeth
Elizabeth says...
November 17th, 2008, 3:53 pm
Hi Carol: How wonderful you’re planting your Christmas tree this year! Firs are one of my favorite! The needles are so soft and the shape of the canopy is breath taking!
Since your tree will be inside for awhile, make sure you keep all ornaments and lights out of the reach of your pets. Many pets are attracted to the shiny bulbs, tinsel (don’t even use tinsel if you have a pet - it can be fatal if ingested!) and lights can attract your critters and can be fatal. They can be electrocuted or have obstructions in their tummy.
Since Firs are large trees, they need to be planted at least 15′ from a structure so they do not grow into the house, garage, guest room, neighbor’s house, etc. Many evergreens do not establish well in the winter due to lack of winter water, be sure to water if there is no moisture. I like to remind people about plant care around the holidays or weekends - it’s easier for them. So, if it stays dry, be sure to water every Saturday for maybe 10 minutes or so - depending on the size of the tree and the moisture. It’s best to touch the soil to see how dry it really is.
Please stay in touch and contact me if you have any other questions!
Good luck and happy holidays! - Elizabeth
Elizabeth says...
November 17th, 2008, 4:08 pm
Hi Maggie: Bless your heart for inquiring about your dog and his digging problems - I’m glad you’re not thinking of relinquishing him - four homes is enough - I’d be digging too!
Anyway, when I meet a dog who is digging, I like to leave a point of reference where they can dig, say out in the yard where you cannot see the hole (this is cosmetic). Many dogs nest next to the house or under decks - which is a huge “no-no” since it is not cosmetic rather it can puddle and ruin your home’s foundation. If we fix all their holes, they will become frustrated and dig elsewhere. We especially do not want them digging in the sod since there is no cure for that.
Our solutions are simple: if they’re digging up near the house or in areas you do not want them digging, simply regrade the area (fill in the hole), install landscape fabric and install chicken wire on top of the fabric, securing it with landscape fabric pins. Duct tape or roll the cut sides of the chicken wire into the fabric because it is very sharp and will injure your dog’s paws when he digs. Once he scratches the surface of the chicken wire though, he will stop digging.
My second solution is if your dog is digging in a garden area with rock or wood mulch and it’s a cosmetic concern, simply let him continue to dig in that area. You can continue to top dress it with rock or wood mulch to prevent mud from tracking into the house. You can add a boulder or statue near the hole to disguise it.
My third solution is -if your dog is digging in the sod, remove the sod in that area and create a garden with mulch and let him continue to dig. Just be sure to install the plants strategically so he does not dig them up. Adding a new organic shape to your yard will not only be beautiful, but decrease the maintenance. Less mowing and watering grass.
Remember, all dogs have issues of some sort but by understanding their habits and working with them (they are actually designing their own yard!) everyone will be happy.
Please contact me if you have any questions or concerns.
Thank you- have fun and get dirty! - Elizabeth
Sidharth says...
March 28th, 2009, 1:25 am
i too love the concept of not hurting animals and always be in a unification with this environment…it would be more easy to love if we could explain Peta and its philosophy to everyone ……..in this world.