Gardening Tips

It's that time of year again, or getting closer up here in Northern Alberta!

Here is a great article on gardening with your dog! This is taken from the Dogs In Canada web page.

Dogs and gardens; Splendor in the grass

A caller inquiring about Welsh Springers wanted to know if they’re diggers. I expect she’s worried about her garden.



Common sense goes a long way when dogs and gardens co-habit. My own garden has hardy plants that can take some abuse. Many native plants stand up well to the wear and tear of life with active dogs, generally demand less effort than their more exotic cousins, and don’t need doses of pesticide and fertilizer to look good. Containers are great plant-savers; urns or big clay pots are ideal for annuals and work well placed among the perennials, right in the flowerbeds, as well as on decks, steps and patios.




Good gardening practice


Use good gardening practices rather than insect- and weed-killers to control pests: build good soil for strong plants, choose plants that suit the conditions of your garden, opt for pest- and disease-resistant varieties, mow the grass high, hand-pick bugs and pull weeds.


Find out which plants are potentially harmful, then decide if you want them in your garden based on your dog’s inclination to chew things. Toxic plants include daffodils, azaleas and rhododendrons, foxglove, lily of the valley and tomato plants (the green parts).


Be prepared to compromise. A friend discovered that her dogs lost interest in the plants as playthings when she stopped fastidiously picking up every stick and windfall apple. My dogs developed a favorite route around the garden, beating it into a narrow path – behind the peonies, through the yew, around the hostas and under the spirea hedge. The dogs respect my plants and I respect their path. When I turn the beds, I leave the path alone.


Yellow spots


Yellow spots on the lawn are probably the biggest gardening challenge for dog owners. Bitches are the worst offenders since males don’t tend to void in one place. The popular remedy of giving your dog apple-cider vinegar or baking soda to modify the urine’s pH is risky, warns Jeff Grognet, D.V.M. “Adding acid or alkali to your dog’s body could send her blood chemistry out of balance.” Besides, it’s the concentration of nitrogen in the urine that burns the grass – the same effect as too much fertilizer.


Flushing the grass with water whenever your dog urinates isn’t practical, so Grognet suggests building up natural buffers by leaving grass clippings on the lawn, or spreading peat moss. “And once urine is broken down, it acts like a natural fertilizer, promoting grass growth.”


A secure fence and gate


A secure fence system is a must, but give some thought to the gate, too. A heavy-duty, spring-loaded hinge will ensure that the gate closes automatically if someone forgets, and if the gate is mounted to open in, it will close on any dog trying to get out.


Dogs capable of hunting for hours need an outlet for their energy. Regular exercise – routine walks, short training sessions, chances to run and play – will save the garden from unwanted attempts at re-landscaping. Give an incorrigible digger an inconspicuous spot to dig in to his heart’s content. Over the years, several dogs – my own and visitors – cooperated in digging a dog-size hole under one of the bushes in my garden. It’s a favorite retreat during the dog days of summer – cool, damp and ‘secret.’


I encourage you to check out Dogs in Canada's web page and search their articles. They have a wonderful collection that is loaded with a wealth of knowledge!