Creating Pet Friendly Outdoor Living Spaces
Landscape design provides both you and your pet with an enjoyable outdoor living space, while including pet-friendly features ensure safety, comfort, and minimized damage to the landscape.
Cats and dogs both benefit from having access to safe fenced-in play areas featuring climbing structures, scratching posts, enrichment toys and enrichment toys for mental stimulation. Pets that love water can splash around in kiddie pools or ponds to cool off.
Outdoor Furniture
Designating an area where pets can play and relax provides peace of mind for owners and their animal companions alike. Achieve this goal requires thoughtful landscaping practices that combine aesthetics and functionality in order to meet all pet needs while safeguarding landscape investments. From design to materials selections, these strategies help protect pets while safeguarding investments made into them.
When selecting furniture for your patio, keep pet-friendly designs in mind that can withstand scratching. Teak wood furniture, synthetic resin wicker chairs and aluminum or iron metal furniture all provide durable surfaces that are easy to keep clean using mild soap and water; fabrics like Spa and Laguna Sunbrella cushion resist staining, fading and mildew for lasting wear; while barriers or sprays that deter chewing and scratching offer additional layers of protection to both patio furniture and other outdoor furnishings around your yard.
Pavement and gravel can be hard on pets’ paws, so opting for soft surfaces like grass or pet-friendly turf provides a soft ground surface which makes walking and relaxing much more comfortable for them. If your cats like to dig, designating an area for this activity allows them to indulge in their natural behaviors without harming any flower beds or landscape features. Choosing pet-safe mulches such as cedar or pine instead of more toxic options like cocoa mulch and lilies is a surefire way to ensure pet safety while improving the appearance of your garden while simultaneously improving its aesthetic appeal!
Pet-Friendly Plants
Many plants can harm pets if consumed, but with some research you can find options that will still add beauty and enhance your landscape without risk. When choosing plants for containers or beds, pet-friendly varieties include marigolds (Calendula), snapdragons and thyme; these grow well in Iowa summer sun while adding beautiful color while repelling pests while repelling them too! Annual sunflowers (Helianthus annuus) make another beautiful addition; its cheerful blooms and tasty seeds attract birds as well as people and wildlife while providing humans and pets nutrition sources while feeding off each other simultaneously – though fibrous shells of its seeds can cause mild stomach upset in cats/dogs but this usually resolves itself soon after being consumed!
Indoor ferns bring lush texture and exotic flair to planters or hanging baskets, including Bird’s Nest Fern (Raphiolepis hirsuta) and Preserved Fern Kokedama. Many other palm species can also be safely utilized indoors such as parlor palm (Chamaedorea elegans), bamboo palm (Chamaedorea seifrizii) and ponytail palm (Beaucarnea recurvata).
Orchids make an elegant statement in any room, and some varieties are considered pet-friendly; other varieties may be toxic to cats and dogs; check the ASPCA website to identify these. In the garden, Camellias (Camellia spp) add a pop of flowers to spring or fall landscapes and can be grown as shrubs, hedges or foundation plantings; other evergreen options that complement designs include Ilex olex (holly) or Sempervivum Tectorum. Coral Bells (Heuchera) are versatile perennials with shade-tolerant foliage that tolerate light frost conditions – perfect for containers or beds!
Shade Options
Shade is essential to providing pets with an enjoyable outdoor space, especially dogs who overheat quickly and become sick without relief. Shade can help block UV rays, lower ground temperatures and provide airflow – all essential factors in helping your pup avoid overheating quickly. Furthermore, providing adequate shade protection from prolonged sun exposure also helps protect his skin against sunburn or any other issues which may develop later.
Permanent structures like pergolas and awnings that offer consistent overhead coverage are the best shade solutions, while tarpaulin, corrugated metal roof or wood-based canopies provide additional coverage. You could also create shade with simple DIY solutions like pop-up PVC canopy or custom wooden pallet awning. Or consider investing in a sun sail kit that allows triangles of screen-like fabric to provide pet shade while still allowing breezes through.
Retractable awnings equipped with smart sensors and auto-retract features offer reliable large-coverage shade featuring UV-blocking fabrics to reduce heat and humidity, maintaining cool temperatures all year long. Cantilever umbrellas and elevated dog cots offer portable shade zones perfect for specific lounging areas or individual dogs; permanent shade combined with cooling add-ons like gel cooling mats and evaporative vests can create an outdoor sanctuary for your pooch!
Water Features
As any pet owner knows, pets love playing in water features. Water features not only add beauty and serenity to landscapes, but they provide pets a place where they can cool off, splash around, and socialize with one another. A pond may not be safe for dogs; shallow fountains or concrete splash pads with pavers offer safer alternatives; our favorite is a frog spitter fountain as it pleases people, kids, and pups alike!
Outdoor pets need shade in hot weather just as much as people do, just as installing umbrellas or pergolas and including trees or tall shrubs will offer relief from the sun. Cozy shelters also offer pets an inviting refuge when temperatures rise.
Water features require regular upkeep. Make sure that non-toxic treatments are used and regularly remove leaves and debris from the water to prevent bacterial growth. Plants such as marigolds, sunflowers and basil will help keep your water clean – these options are also pet-friendly; be careful with azaleas, lilies or oleanders as these could be toxic if consumed by pets.
Active pets need regular physical and mental stimulation. Set aside running spaces and install interactive landscape features like fetch zones and pet-friendly water features to engage pets and keep them entertained.
Fencing
An effective fence can be the key to keeping pets safe outside. Not only will it shield plants and gardens from being nibbled by hungry paws and mouths, it will also provide privacy between yourself and your pet. Fences come in all materials imaginable such as vinyl, wood, chain link and ornamental metal fencing so find one that best matches both your landscape and budget requirements.
If you don’t feel ready or able to install a permanent fence, create a designated potty area for your dog. This could be anything from grass patches and faux turf areas, to gravel areas and baby tears or Boston ferns that are safe for nibbling. Avoid plants such as azaleas, lilies and oleander as these could be toxic to them.
Your deck can offer pets the perfect place to rest and relax under the sun. Add shade options, like pergolas or awnings, for added cooling relief; trees and tall shrubs provide natural shade as well. In hot weather it is important that they have access to fresh water; consider providing them with either a fountain, large dog-friendly bowl, or kiddie pool as possible sources.
Shelter
Outdoor spaces should be shared by everyone, including our furry loved ones. Pets need safe places to play and relax, cool areas to escape heat waves, and dry places when it rains – shelters, rugs, and ground cover can help provide this. A catio provides safe enclosure for cats while still providing fun engagement outdoors; digging pits for dogs satisfy their instinctive desire to dig while keeping away from delicate plants or fences; new hypoallergenic turf is durable surface that both you and your pup can appreciate, low in maintenance requirements with minimal cleanup needed over time – perfect!
Visit one of the Patio World locations today and gain more information on making your backyard pet-friendly.