Create A Garden They Will Love

I’m not afraid to admit that I’m partial to a bit of Gardeners’ World from time to time.  Nigel the dog was always the star attraction for me (very sadly missed now).  I wouldn’t exactly call myself green fingered, but I can pot a plant and mow the lawn.  That’s all there is to it, right?

Yes, I know, there’s a hell of a lot more to it than that and even more so when it comes to our dogs.  See, garden designers have been telling us for years that we should use our space creatively; make our gardens an extended room of our homes; bring the outdoors in (not literally, or my living room would be covered in badly pruned hedges and out of control mint) and make it a peaceful and entertaining space for us to enjoy.  And yet despite this, the needs of one (or two, or three…) member(s) of the family seem to get largely overlooked when it comes to our garden design: our dogs!

There’s a trick being missed here you lovely lot.  With a few tweaks and additions and without the need to take out a second mortgage or bank loan, your garden can become a space for your dog(s), and you, to truly enjoy too.

Now, let’s have a think about your dog and what his or her (garden) needs are, in terms of enrichment (brain tiring entertainment).  Are they a sniffer, a digger, an observer, a water lover, a sun bather?  Watch your dog in the garden and work out what it is they LOVE to do.  Now find your inner Titchmarsh and get planning!

Sand pits (non-toxic sand) or old tyres filled with sand/mud/stones are great for the hardcore garden diggers or ‘excavators’ out there.  Fill a sturdy bucket or the body of a wheelbarrow (minus the frame and wheels) with some soil that you can refill and let digging commence.  Keep hiding some treats or toys in there and encourage your digger to find them.  They will have great fun doing so and will be less inclined to dig elsewhere! Phew, I’ve just rescued your beautiful peony for you ;)

Paddling pools or shallow ponds for water lovers are great and holes pierced along a garden hose make exciting water fountains!  Shaded, sheltered, comfy areas are ideal for snoozy summer naps (your dogs will love them too…) and creating raised platforms/mini hills (plant grass seed over a pile of soil, use railway sleepers/small benches for height) adds versatility with different ground textures (slabs, bark, stones, grass) being ideal for generating interest and mindfulness underfoot.  Tunnels are fabulous for the aspiring caver.  For those of you who don’t fancy digging, willow branch tunnels are pretty and natural alternatives (kits can be found online), or use an upright tyre that has been cut in half.  Leave a patch of grass to grow long and wild for exploring (ensuring no plants that grow are toxic to dogs) or let some grass grow long in a freestanding raised bed if you don’t have a lawn (always check paws, ears, nose, mouth, armipits for gress seeds if your dog has been through long grass during the hotter months).  Plant some scented herbs: catnip, couch grass or lavender for the sniffer dogs out there.

The list really is endless, the only limit is your mind.  Bring out the Chelsea Flower Shower Winner in you, train and have fun with your dog!  For more advice, contact me.

Always check with your vet before introducing any plants and ensure that activities are safe for your dog to engage in.  Your garden must be fully secure and enclosed.   Never force your dog to engage in any activity. Fence off precious areas from paws and waggy tails.  Train your dog to toilet in one area of the garden so that the rest is free for fun.  Always ensure that plants are non-toxic.  Always monitor your dog when equipment is being used.