Dog Friendly Portland, Oregon Landscaping Design Ideas, by Christin Bryk
Dogs and lush gardening—many homeowners assume they’re mutually exclusive. You can’t have both, the thinking goes, because a dog will just tear up any landscaping you might add. Well, we’re here to tell you that you CAN have it all—a beautiful garden and a happy pooch! In today’s blog we’re taking a look at the yard from a canine perspective. Read on for our top tips for Portland, Oregon landscaping enthusiasts who also happen to be dog lovers.
Observe, then Plan.
Every dog has its own way of interacting with a landscape. For instance, some watchdogs have a drive to patrol the yard’s perimeter regularly. Before you overhaul your space for canine friendliness, watch to see how your dog already uses the space. Then, you can tailor your gardening tactics to your pet’s behavior.
As an example, your dog may have worn down a path in the grass (that’s the trail he always takes to check for squirrels!) and you’re irritated that it’s become a muddy mess. As Portland landscaping contractors, we can often suggest innovative solutions to homeowners’ pet problems. In this case, we might recommend adding flagstones along the dog trail, to prevent muddiness while still allowing free movement of the lawnmower.
Doggy Edibles: Dos and Don’ts
There is a range of toxicity in garden plants. Some—mostly the ones that are also edible for humans—are entirely safe for dogs. Others can send Fido to the vet in a heartbeat. So, pay attention to what you plant, and research how it might impact your pet’s health. If your dog likes to eat plants, you should avoid the following toxic species:
— Euphorbias are in the Poinsettia family and are toxic to dogs. The milky sap of these plants is both toxic and an irritant.
–Many flowers are poisonous to dogs, including foxgloves, delphiniums, hellebores, lily of the valley, and columbines. The best flowers for dogs are the ones that humans can also safely eat, such as pansies, roses, violets, marigolds, and nasturtium.
–Tomatoes are also bad news for dogs (especially in large quantities). When planning a garden, consider planting them on another side of the fence or in places your dog cannot access.
When in doubt, check the ASPCA’s comprehensive list of plants that are toxic to dogs.
On the other hand, some plants are especially tasty to our canine companions. Grasses, for instance, are beneficial for dogs. Eating grass can induce vomiting, which can help ease digestive pain that dogs sometimes experience. Additionally, prior to domestication, dogs would eat all of their prey, including the stomach contents, which tended to include grasses and other greenery. Today, this evolutionary hangover is expressed in the eating of grass. To avoid the pesticides and other chemicals that can linger on outdoor grasses, you may want to purchase or plant an indoor grass tray.
Here are a few more species that are beneficial for dogs:
–Milk thistle is easy to grow and is beneficial for canine liver disorders.
–Rosemary is known to boost dogs’ immune systems.
–Burdock is used to treat kidney and digestive issues.
If you’re concerned about your dog’s dietary habits, meet with your veterinarian for expert information.
Dog Runs: Give your Pooch a Breath of Fresh Air!
If dogs could speak, they would likely vote dog runs as the number one must-have items in a modern garden. Dog runs are places where dogs can safely frolic while their owners are away. If you work long hours away from the home, a dog run can be a saving grace for your pet. To serve your dog well, a dog run should be fenced off and partially shaded, to provide protection from the hot sun. If your dog is a digger, you want to make sure any fence material is at least eighteen inches underground.
Our Portland landscaping team would be thrilled to design and build a beautiful, functional dog run for your pet’s enjoyment – and for your peace of mind! Here at Landscaping East & West, we relish the chance to create a custom run that will perfectly serve the dog and its owners. For instance, we might suggest adding a doggy door leading from the garage to the dog run so that the pup can access his or her open space even when master is away. In general, we recommend cedar chips as a ground material for a dog run—this will prevent excess mud while being soft on Fido’s feet. But ultimately, the most important feature for any dog run is that it is safe for the pooch.
Keeping the Mud Out
If doggy paws keep befouling your home with excess mud, there are certain landscaping steps you can take to find a cleaner interior. Gravel patios with crushed rock will keep mud down while also disguising the places where your dog relieves him- or herself. Flagstone patios and other hardscaping can serve the same purpose. As I mentioned earlier, cedar chips are another option. Dog-friendly border plants, that are soft and yet durable, will help minimize mud too. Finally, synthetic lawns can be a great choice when you’re looking to keep the lush green look. Synthetic lawns can also contain zeolite crystals, which help neutralize odors. As Portland landscaping experts, we can also recommend grass species and groundcover alternatives that can disguise urine marks and minimize mud.
Dog-Friendly Water Features
Water has a calming effect on humans and dogs alike. If your dog loves lapping up water from the driveway, a water feature is a huge treat. For your dog’s health, it’s important to keep any water feature free of chemicals and algae, so there is some maintenance required. We can offer you dozens of water feature options, from a concrete gunite masterpiece, to bubbling fountains of fresh water, to small pools. Whatever water feature you select, make sure there are no sharp rocks around the base that could cut your dog’s paws.
With a path to run, fresh water to drink, and shelter, any yard can be a dog’s paradise. Let us help you create the perfect outdoor getaway for you and your pets—contact us today about our Portland landscaping and gardening services.
Christin Bryk is a Design & Sales Associate at Landscape East & West, Portland landscaping professionals. Christin loves helping homeowners create vibrant outdoor spaces that also make their pets feel right at home.
