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Planting Schemes for Gardens with Dogs

Gardens with dogs in them are usually subject to some increase in wear and tear. This being said, by planning and adapting your garden wisely, you can minimize the potential for damage, and quite successfully enjoy an attractive garden in the company of your dog.

When planning changes to the layout of your garden, it is a good idea to first take account of the established routes and pathways used by your dog. Dogs, like humans, are creatures of habit, and it is a lot easier to incorporate the paths your dog uses into the design of your garden than to redirect your dog!

Borders around the periphery of the garden are generally much less likely to incur damage from dogs crashing through them than flower beds in central areas. Most damages usually occurs where a flowerbed divides two open areas of lawn or paving. Dogs often charge straight through these to get from one area to another, and plants may be trampled and crushed. Likewise, flowerbeds situated between the back door of the house and the main area of the garden often suffer as dogs run through them in the excitement of being let outdoors.

Removing flowerbeds from central areas of the garden is one option. This will also increase the area available for your dog to play in.
Another solution is to create a formal pathway through a border. A path made of bricks, stone or slabs along the route your dog normally takes can resolve such issues, allowing the majority of the planting to remain intact.
As a third option, you could try using robust plants in flowerbeds that your dog passes through. Some plants, such as lavender, are remarkably resilient, and will often stand up well to dogs crashing around in them. Lavender also has the added bonus of making dogs smell nice when they run through it.

POTPLANTS, HANGING BASKETS AND CONTAINER PLANTING

You can use plant pots, troughs, tubs, barrels and baskets to grow plants in relative safety from your dog. Containers offer protection to plants that may be trampled and damaged if grown in flowerbeds and borders. Pots themselves can provide added colour, with lots of attractive designs and styles available.

Be aware that plant pots and containers can be attractive marking posts for male dogs. Male dogs may use pots as territorial markers, and plants may suffer for the high levels of nitrogen in dog urine. To avoid this, you can invest in taller pots where the plants will be 'out of range'. Alternatively, try raising smaller pots by placing them on bricks, tree stumps or other raised surfaces

Plant Theatres provide a lovely way to display potted plants, especially in areas where space is limited. Delicate plants can be placed on the upper tiers out of your dog's reach.

Remember to ensure that plant pots are stable, and situated away from main through-routes. This should reduce the chances of pots being knocked over. Pots with wider bases are preferable as they are naturally more stable than pots with wider brims that narrow towards the bottom.

Grouping pots together provides protection and is also visually effective. Arranging pots in groups along walls or beside structures and other features often works well on both counts. Try surrounding pots with large stones, pebbles and other objects. This will provide further stability, protection and can also look very attractive.

Do keep in mind that the 'Escape Artists' of the dog world may use plant pots as a step up to climb over a wall or onto a shed roof. If you're dog is particularly adventurous, make sure you don't create easy escape routes by positioning pots next to boundary walls and fences.

Hanging baskets can provide the ultimate safe planting space out of your dog's reach. There are lots of colourful, easily grown bedding plants that work very well in hanging baskets. You can even use them to grow strawberries out of the reach of your dogs. Hanging baskets can be hung from many sites; you can try hanging them from tree branches as well as man-made structures.

Greenhouses and cold frames with polycarbonate glazing, rather than glass, are recommended for gardens with dogs and other pets. Polycarbonate panels are much stronger than glass, and much less likely to break if a dog or cat runs into them. When space or finances are limited, a smaller grow-house may be a good option.