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Growing a garden that appeals to everyone in the family means you'll need to take the household menagerie into consideration, too. With some research and a bit of careful planning, you can make an outdoor zone that'll keep your pets safe and happy, and be a sensory pleasure for the two-legged members of the family as well.
A pet-friendly garden requires shelter, shade, security, plenty of water, an exercise area for your pet and secure fencing with no potential escape routes. “Position your pet's shelter somewhere dry, in half shade, half sun, off the ground and sheltered from direct sun, wind and rain,” says Dr Leigh Davidson from Your Vet Online. Large shrubs, trees or garden umbrellas can also provide shelter, while a shallow paddling pool can help to cool your dog in hot weather.
To keep your cat safe – not to mention the local wildlife – consider building a cat enclosure or installing cat-proof fencing. Include places for your prowling feline to hide, such as large pots, and places for climbing and perching on up high, where they can survey the territory and bask in the sun.
Play is also important. Cats can be entertained with hanging toys and scratching posts made of recycled tree limbs. Plant areas where your cat can snoop, prowl and shelter from the summer sun. Yates Horticulture Consultant Angie Thomas suggests building an outdoor playpen for smaller pets such as rabbits and guinea pigs. “But never leave them unsupervised,” she adds. “Sit next to them with a cup of tea, as they can be a target for potential predators, such as cats, foxes and dogs.”
Veterinarian Dr Davidson is no stranger to calls from pet owners worried their pet has been poisoned by a plant or chemical in the garden. “With pets increasingly becoming a part of the family, it's important to know how to make our gardens safe for our companion animals,” she says.
“Garden pebbles can spell disaster for dogs that like to play with them,” says Leigh. “They could break a tooth or swallow them whole and get a blockage that may require surgery. Compost and grass clippings can grow poisonous mycotoxins. Fertilisers, rat and snail bait, and sprays can also all cause serious pet poisoning.” If you use snail or slug pellets, place them in traps that are not accessible by pets or children, and consider natural remedies, such as natural insecticide or copper tape. “Grow a variety of flowering plants in the garden to attract beneficial insects, which can help reduce pests,” suggests Angie.
Watch your water features. If you have a pond, place wire mesh over the top to prevent small pets falling in, or install a ramp as an escape route. Also watch for exposed electrical cords, which dogs might be tempted to chew on.
Man's best friend is not always the most helpful garden companion, but a little careful planning can minimise the damage. Does your dog wear a trail as he runs the perimeter, or frequently crush the flowers on a narrow garden path? Simple steps, like keeping pots out of the play zone and planting weeping trees (with flexible branches that can be pushed out of the way without breaking) will help.
A digging dog is the bane of many gardeners. “The best way to minimise digging damage to the yard is to train your pet to have good garden behaviour,” says Dr Davidson. “Avoid punishment and focus on redirecting the behaviour when you see it, such as getting your dog to sit, high five, roll over or play fetch to distract from the action of digging.” You also need to understand why your dog is creating a mess – are they digging because they are bored, lonely or anxious? To discourage digging, use hidden treats and toys to direct your dog to a sandpit, or hide food around the garden for pets to find. “Sniffing is great exercise and entertainment for dogs,” says Dr Davidson. “When leaving dogs for the day, keep them entertained by measuring out a portion of their daily food allowance and sprinkle this around the garden.”
Dog wee can also cause damage to your lawn, as urine is rich in nitrogen, which burns the grass; try putting dog rocks in your dog's drinking water, which filters the water and removes the nitrates in it. “Training your dog to wee in a certain area of the yard is a great option,” says Angie. Try placing pheromone-treated ‘pee posts' in your garden to encourage weeing in the exact spot you want them to.
To keep your hungry bunny or guinea pig out of your vegie or flower bed, look at using pots, hanging baskets or raised beds made of planks of chemical-free, untreated pine or scrap wood. To section off the garden that needs protecting, you can also try using railway sleepers, rocks, fencing, a row of plants or a roll of wire as edgings. Digging (and chewing) is a normal and instinctive behaviour for rabbits, so it's best to monitor their play sessions outdoors, allow a designated outdoor area for them to dig, or consider laying down some grass mats to curb the urge.
You could also replace a dug-up lawn with pet-friendly synthetic turf. Available in various pile depths and shades, it's realistic, low-maintenance, won't stain, smell or become muddy – and feels good under feet and paws!
“What may be safe or toxic to your dog may have the opposite reaction in your cat,” says Dr Davidson. Most hazardous plants will be labelled as such, but ask an expert at the nursery if you're unsure. Most plants will only cause a mild reaction, but the most dangerous include:
There may be other plants that pet owners are concerned about. To be sure, ensure you read the plant label on the plants in store at Bunnings. All plants known to be hazardous will have a warning on them.
Learn how to build this custom dog bed with a sliding feeding station and check out your local Bunnings for products to help you get pet friendly.
Photo credit: Gap Photos (Clive Nichols, Friedrich Strauss), iStock, catnets.com.au, TI Media, all Alamy, Getty Images
Asbestos, lead-based paints and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber are health hazards you need to look out for when renovating older homes. These substances can easily be disturbed when renovating and exposure to them can cause a range of life-threatening diseases and conditions including cancer. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page.
When following our advice in our D.I.Y. videos, make sure you use all equipment, including PPE, safely by following the manufacturer’s instructions. Check that the equipment is suitable for the task and that PPE fits properly. If you are unsure, hire an expert to do the job or talk to a Bunnings Team Member.
