Have Puppies? Here's What You Need to Do in Your Backyard
If your family has recently adopted some puppies, you will probably want them to play outside as much as they can. The backyard can be a world of exploration for them, but you need to take some steps to make sure that they are safe from plants they shouldn't be around. Not only that, you need to guard against holes and dying plants as a result of the dog activities in the yard. Here's what you can do to make your backyard a safe and beautiful place for you and your puppies.
Get Rid of Poisonous Plants
You may be unaware of this, but your backyard might be teeming with plants that could make your puppies vomit or become ill. Some popular plants that may be toxic for dogs include eucalyptus, basil, daffodils, and certain varieties of lilies. If there are plants that you know to be dangerous for your puppies, you may want to remove the plants from the yard before the puppies get sick.
Plant Urine-Resistant Bushes
After all the work of getting rid of plants that aren't good for your puppies, it's time to beautify the yard with some new plants. However, the new plants should be urine resistant so that they aren't destroyed by the dogs. Dog urine contains chemicals, including ammonia, that can lead to wilting leaves and a unattractive yard. Seek out japanese spindle trees, sword ferns, and other kinds of plants with leaves that can withstand urine over time.
Make a Sandbox
One of the biggest threats to the beauty of your backyard is a curious puppy who digs holes. If you've got more than one puppy, you might have holes all over the yard if you aren't careful. To prevent that, you can take a section of the yard and create a sandbox for the puppies. All you need to make one is a few bricks or wood planks and some sand. Once you've stacked the bricks or hammered the planks into the ground, fill the area with sand.
To get the puppies interested in the sandbox, let them watch you hide treats and toys in the area. For the first few days, you may want to keep hiding treats; they will soon lose interest in the rest of the yard. If they attempt to dig in the grass after that, simply direct them to the sandbox.
When you pay attention to the ideas listed above, you can feel better about letting your puppies frolic in the backyard. Be sure to consult a landscaper in your area, such as L & L Excavation & Landscaping, for more suggestions.
