By Elizabeth Bublitz owner of Pawfriendly Landscapes Reviewed by Kris Ahlgrim, d.v.M
Most people want to prevent their dogs from entering their gardens. However, my clients are unique (and wonderful!) because they actually want to share their gardens with their dogs. Since dogs use the backyard more than any other family member, I developed a landscape company that creates backyards based on canine habits"”both good and not-so-good. Dogs are my muse, if you will, for designing a backyard. By respecting their habits and using appropriate materials, homeowners do not have to redo their yard every year.
One particular request my clients have is creating a vegetable garden for dogs. Many dogs love eating certain vegetables, such as carrots, peas, squash, etc."”so why not create a garden (or at least a section of it) for him to harvest his own snacks?
The first step in creating an enticing garden is to choose the perfect area. Keep it at ground level so your dog can access it. You will also want to provide a walkway so you and your dog can harvest your vegetables. The size depends on how much you want to harvest and the size of your dog. Typically a 10'x10' garden is adequate. Most importantly, the garden should be in a sunny area! Vegetables need to receive at least 4 hours of sun each day.
Another important consideration is how you will water your garden. If you do not have automatic sprinklers on your new garden, you'll want to locate it near a hose bib or spigot.
Mark out the selected area with inversion spray paint, a garden hose, or flour. Once the shape is determined, edging is needed. Edging is a material that prevents the migration of one material into another. Let's say your new garden is in the middle of your lawn; the edging will prevent the sod from migrating into the garden, and will prevent the topsoil in the garden from migrating into the sod. Be sure to use only pet-friendly edging. Some edging is made of steel and requires a "safety" cap. The cap normally pops off due to age and weather, leaving the sharp top of the edging exposed and able to easily lacerate a dog's paw. Pet-friendly edging is a steel edging that has a rolled top. The rolled top will prevent lacerations. Edging can also be brick, pavers, plastic edging, concrete curves, etc."”regardless of what is used, be certain it is pet-friendly.
After the garden area is edged off, it needs to be prepped. If the area has sod, then it must be removed, or excavated, with a sod cutter, tractor or shovel. Many people confuse tilling with excavation. Tilling is done when soil amendments, such as aged manure, compost, planter's mix, etc., are worked into the soil. Adding soil amendments increases nutrients and prevents compaction so roots can easily acquire water, oxygen and food. Excavation, however, is the removal of the sod or weeds at least a couple inches below the surface to prevent weeds. If sod is tilled into the soil and not removed, then weeds will grow and create a maintenance nightmare.
Once the area is prepped, it's time to bring in new soil. Planter mix, top soil, or bagged outdoor garden soil will work for your new vegetable garden. Due to erosion, you may have to add soil every year or so. Most amendments contain a mix of animal manure and peat. The manure (usually from sheep or cow) is the nutrient component, and the peat acts like an aerator to break down the soil. If you are adding manure, make sure it is aged so it does not burn your new plants. Also, many dogs love the smell of manure, fish emulsion, and other "stinky" amendments which will trigger them to dig in your new garden and wreak havoc on it.
Most commercial fertilizers, such as Miracle Gro, Peter's, Scott's, etc., are just fine for your vegetable garden. In fact, many manufacturers create fertilizers specifically for vegetables. Vegetables love to eat so you will want to fertilize weekly or every other week. When you fertilize, be sure to provide plenty of water for your plants or they may burn.
Now you're ready for the fun part"”choosing your new fruits and vegetables. Although most vegetables are safe, below is a list of non-toxic fruits and vegetables for your new dog-friendly garden, and a list of toxic ones to avoid.
