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As I write this I’m sitting on my porch. Though many days recently have been so grossly hot and humid that I’ve never wanted to venture outdoors, some have been pleasant, especially in the mornings. These days I’ve taken to bringing my laptop out to the porch and completing my work here.
I let the dog wander around the yard as I do so. Just a moment ago I had to do something that’s become common during these work outdoors mornings: chase my dog away from my garden.
The majority of my garden items – herbs and berries – are beyond my dog’s electric fence boundaries and thus out of her reach. A couple items are within it, though at least she shows no interest in my rhubarb.
But she can get to some of my basil. Last year she ripped my entire cilantro plant out by the root almost right away, so much so that I never saw any of the herb for the rest of the season. Thus I’m a bit wary about letting her anywhere near my garden.
It’s something many of us with both pets and gardens might not realize at first: we might have to worry about keeping the former out of the latter. How do we do so?
The first solution is obvious, because I mentioned it above: plant your garden somewhere beyond your pet’s reach. If that’s not an option, you can put a fence just around your garden. Simple chicken wire likely won’t deter dogs or especially cats, but a thigh- or waist-high fence might do the trick.
Dogs can be trained to learn that the garden space is sacred and they must stay out of it. My dog knows that about the laundry room (where I keep the cat’s food); even when the door is open, she knows not to enter. Curiosity still might get the better of them, however, so if you’ve a pet that really seems to want into your garden, make sure that you don’t leave it unattended in your yard.
Chances are you won’t end up with a cat that’s determined to dig up or chow on your plants. If you are growing something cat-friendly, however, like cat grass or catnip, that might encourage them to experiment to see if your other plants are just as tasty. To deter this, plant your kitty items in a separate location from your other florae.
If you’re an avid green thumb you can also use your garden to encourage healthy habits with your pets. Veterinary nutritionist Dr. Susan Wynn gave some tips to pet website ZooToo on cheap and wholesome treats to grow for your pet. Many of these can be enjoyed by the whole family.
Rather than buying bags of dedicated dog or cat treats (we often pay more just to have that word on the label) or even using pieces of the pet’s own food for the purpose (that’s what my husband and I usually do), you can reward your pets with some home-grown produce.
You can give your dog many fruit or veggies from your garden: green beans, carrots, cucumber, squash, blueberries, apples, peaches, and more. Just stay away from onion, garlic, and grapes/raisins.
While cats are trickier, there are still some options. Catnip is an obvious choice, but Wynn says cats also love lemongrass and sometimes even melons or broccoli.
This summer as you work in your garden try these tips both to keep your pets from rummaging in it, and reward them for doing so with some of your hard-earned bounty.
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*(This image by Jay Woodworth is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.)
