Dogs and cats can be determined to get where they want to go. Planting shrubs and ornamental grasses and pet-friendly plants can help – most pets will go around rather than through such plantings.
Dogs:
Try creating paths with stones, soft straw or pavers and you will no longer be frustrated with your dog or cat running through your delicate flower beds. When adding new pet-friendly plants, larger-sized trees, shrubs and perennials are more likely to survive. If you have a new garden, try a temporary wire enclosure to keep pets out. Raise any vegetable garden beds with railway sleepers so dogs can walk around them, and plant 'Dog bane' (a plant with a strong odour, dogs dislike) to repel them from garden beds. A permanent enclosure, such as a picket fence, edging or barrier is a must for vegetable or herb gardens where you don’t want your pets to go.
An elegant colonial fence garden edging can add an affordable, designer-look detail to your outdoor landscape. However consider buying panels made from poltresin rather than timber as these are weather-resistant and do not need painting and are simple to put together. Ideal for corners, curves and straight runs.
Gardener's Supply Company
It's hard to keep your lawn looking good when urine spots from neighborhood dogs pop up faster than dandelions. The Dog Repair Kit makes fixing those unsightly spots fast and easy. The blend of grass seed, green fiber mulch and water-retaining polymers neutralizes acid and retains moisture to stimulate rapid growth. 20-oz. resealable bag covers up to 100 square feet. Apply as directed. (Please click on the image at right)
Also, try to avoid bare soil – it’s a perfect invitation to dig. position perennials close together, and also plant some tough, pet-friendly plants and ground covers, such as thyme, lamb‘s ears, sage and succulents between larger woody plants. Avoid thorny plants and be aware of poisonous plants such as hellebore.
Mulch the garden with straw or gravel where appropriate. If you’re trying to get a new area of lawn to grow, rolls of turf will establish quicker than seed, especially if pets are using the yard at the same time
Cats:
Cats, generally do very little damage to gardens but some have an inclination to roam into other people‘s gardens. If your cat sees itself as an intrepid explorer, provide a safe and enjoyable garden withpet-friendly plants that will encourage him or her to stay within those boundaries instead of investigating foreign territories. You can do this by providing pet-friendly plants and toys that cats enjoy. All cats love the chance to play, and one thing they go wild for is catnip (Nepeta cataria), rolling around on it and getting very playful. Catnip is a member of the mint family with apparently sedative effects, catnip‘s exact effect on cats is unknown, but there is no question they adore it. Try planting catnip as well as catmint (Nepeta faassenii) in your cat‘s favourite areas.
Ants can be a major irritant to both plants and pets alike. University studies show that ants prefer a liquid diet. Rid yourself of these pests with Liquid Ant Bait stations containing a "gourmet" liquid attractant that ants find hard to resist. When they bring it back to their nest, it kills the queen and the colony. The low toxicity borax based formula, is effective against carpenter, argentine, odorous house ants, and many others ant species (except pharaoh, harvester and fire ants) . Pre-filled packs mean no mess, and keep bait fresh. Use indoors and out.
Not all plants are considered to bepet-friendly plants for your feline friend though, and some are very dangerous. Make sure to avoid all types of lilies, as they are toxic to cats.
Other essentials for a cat-friendly garden include an outdoor litter box and outdoor scratching post. Make sure you‘re a responsible owner by placing a bell on your cat‘s collar to alert native wild life to their presence. At night, all cats should be brought inside. Of course, keeping foreign cats off your garden is easy. All you need is a day at home and a garden hose… cats have an intense aversion to being sprayed with water.
Cats, generally do very little damage to gardens but some have an inclination to roam into other people‘s gardens. If your cat sees itself as an intrepid explorer, provide a safe and enjoyable garden with
for is catnip (Nepeta cataria), rolling around on it and getting very playful. Catnip is a member of the mint family with apparently sedative effects, catnip‘s exact effect on cats is unknown, but there is no question they adore it. Try planting catnip as well as catmint (Nepeta faassenii) in your cat‘s favourite areas.