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| DOGS + A SMALL YARD
In March 2020 (yes, when the world officially shut down) we bought our current house in the city of Des Moines. It was a cute place with a small backyard where we could create cozy outdoor spaces and I could experiment with plants. It was also fenced-in for our two dogs, Sunny and Gunther. A fence was something new for me. I felt so liberated...then realized when dogs have lots of freedom in a small, enclosed space, many challenges emerge.
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Let me explain...Sunny is an energetic Australian Cattle Dog, while Gunther was a low-energy wire-haired dachshund (we lost this cutie in 2023). For years, I only had Gunther who quietly walked under and around plants, which made him a low-impact garden dog. When we brought Sunny into the picture (at our previous house) she enjoyed sprinting back-and-forth in our large open field and jumping up to nip the flowers off zinnias (among other things)...then we moved to our tiny lot in the city. Yes, we take her on many walks, but day-to-day she enjoys the little oasis in our small garden and I, as the designer, have had to explore ways to create the outdoor spaces I envision, while also accommodating her spirited flow. |
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| CHALLENGES + SOLUTIONS
A small shady, urban garden under large oak trees has its own set of challenges, but double it up with an energetic dog, then we really start to have fun. Below are some of the Sunny challenges and solutions we've explored to date.
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FENCE RUNNING PATHS
Right off the bat I realized Sunny still needed exercise and she instantly fulfilled that by establishing "her" paths along our fence lines. Luckily, our neighbors on both the north and south sides have dogs, so they enjoying "chasing" each other along the fence. I have purposely not planted anything in these fence zones so she has the freedom to run here. I make sure it's mulched to prevent muddy feet in our house too. :) As I add more and more beds, I make sure her fence path is defined and safe for her use. Honestly, you can't even see most of her fence paths because of the planting beds in front of them, so it works out nicely (not that they have to be hidden!).
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PROTECTING CORNERS
Gunther was awesome about staying on my "designed" paths, but Sunny, not so much. When there is neighborhood dog drama, she takes the straight line to reach the excitement (trampling all plants in tow). We have rectilinear patios and paths, so I started placing groups of containers on the corners that were cut most often. She is awesome about going around these. I have also tried using larger plants for some of my corners (but they need to be large initially to really work). |
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| PROTECTING PLANTS
I now had the corners protected, but was still struggling with many of the new plants in our beds. I would install a planting area, then Sunny would use it as her new path or scratching pad. I couldn't put containers everywhere, so finally had the idea to "protect plants" until they were established and large enough to hopefully deter her a bit. I was visiting a garden in Kansas City and saw their lovely obelisks (upright vine-climbing structures) and it hit me...maybe I could use these to protect plants temporarily, while also having lovely garden ornaments. I admit, I do have a forest of obelisks in my garden right now, but most are black and you hardly notice them (if you squint you'll see them in these photos). Some are cream and add to the garden charm. I love that I can constantly move them around where needed. These have made a big impact in a short time...allowing my new plants a great jumpstart.
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DEFINING GARDEN ROOMS
While exploring raised planters for our new vegetable garden, I suddenly realized that I could use these same planters to help define the edges of three garden rooms (the long orange planter in photos). By lifting the plants off the ground in key areas, I was able to establish a stronger garden "wall" to enclose our dining area, fire pit space and garage entry. These plants are protected from Sunny's energy, while also providing a place for me to experiment with larger containers filled with woody plants, perennials, annuals and edibles. It's great to see these spaces finally moving in the direction I envisioned, with Sunny by my side. Win, win. |
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| LET'S DO THIS!
How have you designed your garden to accommodate both people and pets? Please let me know via Instagram or hit reply to this email.
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Where did I get those fabulous terra cotta colored raised planters? They are from VEGO GARDEN and I am loving them. Please note this is an affiliate link (plus the one above), because I think you'll love them too.
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I'm currently planning my in-person presentation and workshop schedule for 2025. If you would like me to visit your group please drop me an email at [email protected]. Check out my PRESENTATION page for more information.
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Wishing you many magical garden moments,
Lisa
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PAPER GARDEN WORKSHOP |
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