Among the best ways to begin developing a pet-friendly garden is to execute a thorough study regarding which sort of plants would suit best for you and your space. A lot of plants are poisonous for dogs, cats, and other pets, so choosing safe plants is a good idea in case your tenant’s pet decides to take a bite. Supposing you have existing plants on the property, carry out a heedful inventory of every single one (including the trees) to determine any that can be toxic. Just in case you find any, be certain to remove the entire plant and root structure. Do not use chemicals or poisons on the plants, as these can harm pets as well.
When you already have a clear idea of which plants you want to put in the garden, it’s time to prepare and organize your area. Pet-friendly gardens oftentimes use features like sturdy border plants, planting containers, raised beds, and fences to control which parts of the yard the pet will be able to access. Taking advantage of large, sturdy plants as a barrier close to more delicate plants can surely aid to keep pets from trampling and urinating in places you don’t want them to. Container gardening, especially hanging baskets and railing planters can help place garden plants out of reach. In the long run, any inexpensive or decorative fencing would be of great help to encourage pets to use certain areas of the yard while keeping them away from others.
Other variations of deterrents include planting specific varieties of spices and pungent plants with smells that pets don’t like. To cite an instance, rosemary, sage, and bitter orange plants may keep a curious dog away due to their strong odor. Some experts recommend planting Coleus Canina, sometimes called Dogbane, in areas where pets aren’t wanted. For cats and some dogs, this plant has an overpowering smell that they get repelled by. However, the scent is barely noticeable to humans.
As a final point, it is crucial to take into account what type of fertilizer you are using on your plants. Many varieties of fertilizer and even mulch can be harmful to household pets. Even though you don’t assume your tenant’s pets will have unsupervised access to the garden, it’s right to err on the side of caution. By considering non-toxic varieties of both fertilizer and mulch, you can most probably help to create a pet-safe garden that your tenant will love.
With a bit of earnest planning and creativity, you can design a beautiful garden that simply appears great and, not only that, can safely withstand the ordinary activities of household pets.
When you team up and cooperate with the team of Highland property managers at Real Property Management Utah County, you can be sure that tenants will be excited and happy with a pet-friendly garden in their homes. Contact us online or call us at 801-889-1517 for more information.