Dog-Friendly Garden Ideas
When the temperatures begin to rise, my dogs love to go outside. But this summer, we are trying something different. I’ve planted dog-friendly plants around our yard so my dogs have their own garden to appreciate.
Dogs love to work their noses. Plant something fragrant that they can enjoy. Our favorite is rosemary.
Every time we walk by the rosemary plant, I rub the leaves between my fingers to release the oil. Then I rub the oil behind my dog’s ears for them to enjoy.
Rosemary oil is stimulating, warming, and uplifting. It’s just what we need!
Snack time can be as simple as growing a few of your dog’s favorite treats in containers. One of our favorites is mint!
Mint comes in many varieties like spearmint, orange mint, and chocolate mint. With so many options, it can be overwhelming. But if your local garden center allows dogs, you can let your canine do the picking for you.
Mint will spread through your garden if you plant into the ground. For that reason, it’s best to plant in containers.
When chewing mint leaves, it stimulates digestive enzymes. The menthol found in peppermint leaves can help to relax stomach muscles. This improves the passage of food. It also has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. This can be good to neutralize stinky breath.
My dogs check the mint container every day so they can nibble on the leaves. And if the mint plants are getting bare, we buy another mint plant to replenish.
Syre loves checking his mint plants daily.
Another favorite at our house is fruit, especially raspberries and blueberries. Since my dogs cannot get enough of their favorite fruit treats, they have their own plants.
While we have a medium-sized yard, I’m not able to plant all their favorites directly in the ground. We’ve planted blueberry bushes off our patio area, accented by ornamental grasses. And our raspberry bush was planted into a small, raised-garden planter.
Raspberry plants can spread easily. For this reason, planting in a container will restrict size and make pruning easier.
My dogs loves raspberries. Not only are they easy to digest but are rich in fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. They’re full of vitamins C & B6, as well as magnesium, copper, and zinc. Raspberries also contain antioxidants like ellagic acid, which is an anti-inflammatory.
When it comes to blueberries, they not only taste good but they are full of vitamin C and fiber. The antioxidant, anthocyanin, can reduce inflammation and has anti-cancer properties.
With so many dog-friendly plant options for summer gardening, the sky's the limit. Start with plants that you know your dog likes. Let your dog help you plant your selections around the yard. If you don’t have a yard, many plants and veggies do well in containers for balcony gardening.
A garden doesn’t have to be large. But adding a few plants that your dog can enjoy can make summertime more enjoyable.
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