Perhaps you would like to start your own organic garden in the backyard, as a way to practice healthy and sustainable eating. The problem is, you have a pet who considers the spot to be its territory, which makes things difficult to start growing crops. However, you don’t have to sacrifice either aspect in order to be happy. We are here to help you out, providing you some ideas on how to make your organic garden pet-friendly. Without further ado, let’s get to them!
1. Design and protect your organic garden well.
If your pet has already a special spot in the backyard, then it is best not to set up your organic garden there, as pets tend to be territorial when it comes to its favorite place to go to. Find another area of the backyard to work on cultivating your crop, but also consider reserving your pet’s place as its own. Whether it’s providing some nice toys or a little sanctuary with shade for your pet to lounge around in, making it comfortable will make it easier to start designing your garden with less stress!
Additionally, protecting your garden from your pet’s tendency to dig or relieve itself is essential for both its safety and the crop’s worth. You might choose to install elevated pots or boxes to put the crops in, planting them in a way that will discourage it to dig or otherwise eat them. Spraying the products with coyote or wolf urine has been shown to deter dogs from going into the garden, so why not give that a try?
2. Grow pet-friendly crops.
While it is important for your pet not to trample all over your hard work, it is also essential not to let it eat the crops. Some of them, including apples, buckwheat, and rhubarb, have been shown to make animals sick, even leading to long-term health problems and possibly death. Make sure you do your research to figure out what is safe or not to grow, especially when the possibility of your pet having access to them is apparent. Taking precautions will benefit your organic gardening experience, as well as prevent your furry friend from any sort of alimentary danger.
3. Train your pet.
Besides taking measures to make your garden pet-friendly, it is also important to train your pet not to mess with it. Granted, it’ll take time for it to master the basics, but doing so will greatly benefit you and your crops in the end. Teach your dog to relieve itself in designated areas of the backyard, as well as not to dig around in the plant soil. Over time, your pet still learn to adapt to these changes, thereby making the gardening experience a smoother one.
4. Safety and security.
Just like #2, protecting your pet from certain crops by not planting them is essential to your little friend’s safety. Other aspects, such as barriers and gardening remedies, should also be considered. Construct fences around the gardens at four feet or higher, so as to prevent your pet from jumping over, and keep items like rodent traps away in the tool shed if not being used. Safety and security are key when it comes to your pet’s life, along with the success of your organic garden.
