Protect Your Pup: Pet-Friendly Designs & Plants

Monica Meier

Mar 12 min read

Updated: 4 days ago

Pets are considered part of the family, but are often left out

when it comes to designing our backyard spaces.

We typically think about the basics: what plants do I like, do I want an

entertainment area, how can I get the most out of my space and budget, etc.

Our pets spend a majority of their lives in our homes. Their backyards should

be not only an oasis for their fur-parents, but also an exciting and safe

landscape for them to enjoy.

So, how can we create a stimulating environment for our pets that

simultaneously looks beautiful and functional? Here’s a few ideas!

Dog Paths

Our dogs are here to love us - and also protect us. Dogs will typically find

“routes” within their backyard to constantly walk and patrol. This can create

wear and tear on grass, dirt walkways, and our plants.

To avoid damage to your backyard, you can create “dog paths” that allow your

pup to patrol to their hearts desire. There are a lot of options for stone

pathways that are inexpensive and give your home a luxury feel.

Save Your Grass

Speaking of wear and tear on grass; our pets can unfortunately do a lot of damage and even kill grass. If you’ve just installed a new lawn, don’t worry! There are a lot of ways to ensure your grass is protected.

Training your pet to use designated potty areas can be life saving for your lawn. Try incentivizing your pup to potty around dirt and ground cover, rather than your lawn.

Or, you can take it a step further and install turf grass - either for your entire lawn, or a small, separate section just for your pet. Ground cover has also been increasing in popularity as opposed to grass.

Enrichment & Stimulation

Check out some of the ways you can spoil your pet with your landscape design:

This is a super easy way to incorporate some of your pet’s belongings into the design of your backyard. If your pup has a large mouth, pots with water bowls are also sustainable - your pet will water the plants when they drink!

Is your pet obsessed with playing in water, but you’re sick of looking at a neon kiddie pool in your backyard? Installing a water feature like a pond is a great way to instantly upscale your yard, but also gives your pup a place to play.

Dogs love to dig, but your plants won’t love it. In Monterey, sand is easy to come by and easy to install! Creating a “sandbox” will give your pet lots of stimulation without comprising your plants or irrigation.

Pet Friendly Plants & Grasses (and ones to avoid!)