If you have a dog at home, dog-friendly backyard landscaping ideas might be just what you need to inspire your backyard upgrade. Are you concerned about your pet’s safety around plants? Do you want to protect the condition of your garden? Or, do you just want to make your dog feel more comfortable playing in the yard?
Regardless of your reasoning, there are plenty of options that work for any circumstance. Here are some great tips and ideas for creating a dog-friendly outdoor environment at home:
Lose the lawn
A lawn might seem like the perfect environment for a dog, but both their digging and droppings can mean trouble for the health of the yard. If you want a more sustainable backyard your pups will also benefit from, consider replacing your lawn with any number of dog-friendly grass alternatives.
For the same lush feel without the maintenance, try planting dog-friendly ground covers like Irish moss, creeping thyme or clover. These hardy ground covers feel soft under your dog’s paws, but can stand up to rough play and pet urine.
Plus, they’re much more environmentally friendly than grass lawns because they require almost zero watering once established.
Dog-friendly plants
Another aspect of dog-friendly landscaping is keeping your pooch safe from toxic or dangerous plants. If you love fragrant, vibrant flowers, good news: you can plant fuchsias, sunflowers, snapdragons, nasturtiums and magnolia bushes without worrying about your pet’s safety.
If you’re more interested in tall greenery, maiden grass makes an extremely durable pet safe option for your backyard landscape. Your dog will love romping around in the long, rustling leaves - meanwhile, you can rest easy knowing they won’t get sick if they happen to take a bite.
If you want to create a dog-friendly landscape at home, prioritize replacing your lawn with a mat-like ground cover and choosing plants carefully to keep your four-legged friends healthy. If you remember these key tips, both you and your dog will enjoy the benefits of a dog-friendly yard.
About the Author
Tony Blevins
Hi, I'm Anthony Blevins and I'd love to assist you. Whether you're in the research phase at the beginning of your real estate search or you know exactly what you're looking for, you'll benefit from having a real estate professional by your side. I'd be honored to put my real estate experience to work for you. I have been a licensed realtor since 2015 and have lived in South Florida for over 30 years. My background is a business professional with over 14 years of experience as a wealth portfolio manager for high net worth clients in both the Naples and Palm Beach Island area. One of my first jobs while I worked my way thru college was in the construction industry, building, remodeling and restoring homes as I earned my Bachelors degree in Finance. I like to spend my free time offshore fishing, boating, scuba diving in the keys and enjoying all the benefits the South Florida weather has to offer.