Landscaping With Pets and Other Animals
Plants Poisonous to Dogs
If you're a dog owner, you know it's hard to predict what a dog may make a snack of. If that snack turns out to be a plant poisonous to dogs, Max could end up with an upset stomach -- or worse. No list of toxic plants can be definitive, but I point out several common ones here to keep in mind.
How to Build Underground Dog Fences
Learn about underground dog fences from an expert. This Q&A addresses a number of concerns dog owners have about this innovative technology for containing dogs. For example, what's the best way to bury the boundary wire? Use a trencher. Our expert reveals what you need to know about renting a trencher.
Dog Repellents
I treat "dog repellents" in the broadest sense here, to maximize your options. Besides commercial dog repellents, learn about some alternative products that you may already have lying around the house. I also introduce you to some of the gadgets now available to discourage marauding dogs.
Landscaping With Dogs
Do you have a dog who spends lots of time in the yard? If so, you know that business-as-usual landscaping is out of the question for you. The "green, green grass of home" holds up well neither against dog urine nor against dog traffic. Compromise is required, and since Fido won't be compromising anytime soon, that means you have to make...
Cat Repellents
Even if you're a cat aficionado, it's no fun stepping in cat poop when you're trying to enjoy a relaxing stroll through your garden. Happily, cats have certain vulnerabilities we can exploit to keep them away from where they don't belong. I introduce you to a variety of methods in this article.
Catnip Plants
Of course, landscaping with pets is about more than just the challenges to meet. There are also wonderful times to be enjoyed with your pets out in the yard. One of my favorite ways to interact with cats outside is to give them access to catnip plants (Nepeta cataria) and watch them go wild!
Flowers That Attract Hummingbirds
Have you ever seen someone who's not usually much of a nature-lover become absolutely transfixed by the sight of a hummingbird? It's just further proof of the powerful attraction we feel for these tiny birds. The question is, What ways are there for us to attract them? Find out here.
Squirrel-Proof Birdfeeders
Hummingbirds are one thing; squirrels are another. They may be the biggest backyard pest for bird watchers, as they can clean out a birdfeeder in no time. What's the answer? Well, if you do not have money to burn on bird food, it's time to consider a squirrel-proof feeder. I present an example here.
Winter Pasture Care Tips for Those With Horses in the Yard
If you have horses in the yard, you face unique challenges. In her article, "Winter Pasture Care Tips," About's Guide to Horses, Katherine Blocksdorf, has tips on everything from battling mud to boosting your pasture.
How Pets Can Lower Stress
Landscaping poses challenges for families with pets and/or livestock, but having animals also offers unique rewards. In this article, Elizabeth Scott, About's Guide to Stress Management, discusses one benefit that accrues to a family owning pets.
Outdoor Cat Enclosures
Do you have your own version of Houdini in your yard in the form of a feline friend? Cats are notoriously difficult to contain. But Purr…fect Fence offers a solution. They sell what they've aptly called the "Houdini-proof outdoor cat enclosure." This fencing's poly mesh grid is said to be durable yet flexible.