While there are plenty of gardeners out there who have furry four-legged friends, there can be risks to having both a dog and a garden. Many people cite the problems of bare, sparse lawns, trampled borders and dog mess as some of the key reasons why it can be hard to have a garden you love as well as a dog.
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But, as Monty Don looks set to prove, gardens with dogs don't have to be difficult. Monty's first foray as a designer at RHS Chelsea Flower Show sees him designing the RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden, where he has let his dog Ned lead the way with the design.
The RHS's chief horticulturalist Guy Barter and Battersea lead horticulturalist Dawn Grehan offer a few ideas on how to make a garden both you and your dog will love (and not ruin).
Make a garden for all the senses
Dogs love to explore by using their noses and there are many dog-friendly herbaceous plants and shrubs that can be planted for them to investigate, such as rosemary, basil, thyme and lemon balm. Stimulating dogs' paws is a good way of doing this too, with surfaces such as grass, play-grade bark chip and garden paving for pets to follow their owners around the garden.
Don't do delicate plants
Everyone knows that dogs love to be boisterous when they are having a good time, so you don't want to plant your garden with delicate plants that will get easily trampled on, never to return. Robust plants include sedges, shorter grasses, catmint and lavender.
Design for the dog as well as you
You can make your garden pleasing to the eyes of your pets by offering them some visual stimulation in their outdoor sanctuary. Dogs mainly see in blue and yellow, so to help them enjoy the garden just as much as us humans, you can look to plant yellow and blue dog-friendly plants such as cornflowers, pansies, asters and sunflowers. Pansies also grow all year round, allowing for a permanent feature in the garden for owners and their pets to enjoy.
Don't forget shade
It’s important to offer your pet plenty of shaded areas to keep cool and relax. You can make use of larger trees which are dog-friendly such as field maple and hawthorns, or larger shrubs such as camellias and deutzias, which will add a beautiful pop of colour to your outdoor space. When spending time in the garden with your dog in hotter weather, be sure to offer them plenty of water stations to keep hydrated.
Watch out for toxic plants and fence off anything that they shouldn't go near
There are a number of plants that can be toxic to dogs, which owners should be mindful of, such as alliums including onions, garlic and leeks, foxgloves and rhododendron/azaleas. If you have any plants in your garden that are toxic to dogs, be sure to enclose these with a secure fence that your dog cannot get through, under or over.
All toxic plants can present different symptoms in dogs, from an upset tummy to vomiting and even heart problems. Any plant can cause side-effects when ingested and some animals may be more sensitive to plants that are commonly considered safe. Be sure to be vigilant when your pet is out in nature and if you are at all worried about your pet’s health, consult your vet immediately.
What about water?
Monty's RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden will feature a shallow stream, which allows wallowing, and will animate the space. It's also alongside a cattle trough - an overflowing zinc container which will be a water feature and an accessible dog bowl too.
Weedy lawns
While having a pristine lawn may not be a realistic option if you have a dog, having a healthy, weedy patch can still be a lovely asset to a garden, as long as you embrace the worn-out look. Monty Don's RHS and Radio 2 Dog Garden features a central lawn but it's far from pristine, and features an old apple tree.
At a glance: things to avoid
- A fully open space without shelter or shade
- Garden tools left lying around
- Plants and flowers that are toxic to dogs
- Cocoa mulch
- Insecticides and fertilisers that can be dangerous for dogs
Discover this garden designed with dogs in mind from Álvaro Sampedro