How to Create the Ultimate Pet-Friendly and Animal-Friendly Yard

Landscape architects consider all of the ways you plan to use your outdoor spaces, and that includes making them pet-friendly! From dog runs to catios (a patio for cats!), we ensure the spaces are safe and welcoming for all of your critters. If you are looking to make your yard more joyous for your pets, consider the following best practices.

Dogs

• Your dog can’t ruin your grass if there’s no grass to ruin. Using plants or mulch in place of grass is a great way to keep your yard looking great even if the yard is your dog’s bathroom.

• You may not have a pool, but your dog can! Get a small kiddie pool or go all out with a pond. You can go as big (water fountain) or as simple as you want. Another bonus: clean, running water can double as outside drinking water for your dog. 

• Don’t forget to add shade to your design! In the hot and humid summer months here in the DMV, your dog will appreciate the shade as much as that pool.

• If you’ve got a high-energy dog, give them room to run! Open spaces and flat ground make great options for free-range play.

Cats

• Create a catio to allow your cat outside without actually letting them out. You can add cat-friendly plants (such as a spider plant or African Violet) for aesthetics, cat bed, scratching post, and some cat toys to make it feel like home!

• Put bird feeders outside the house to give your cat something to look at throughout the day without actually allowing them to chase down the birds.

• Cats dislike certain smells. If you’re worried about neighborhood/outdoor cats using your yard as a litter box, plant things with citrus smells or lavender to deter them. If you’re really having issues with neighborhood cats you could consider motion sensor sprinklers to keep them away.

Birds

• How do you attract birds to entertain the cat? Put out bird food and bird boxes.

• Bird baths also attract birds, and it’s so fun to watch them gather and splash around!

Butterflies and Bees

• Attract beautiful butterflies with native Virginian plants like White Turtlehead and Butterfly Week. Not only will you enjoy seeing them, but this also feeds your local pollinators (which is good for the entire ecosystem!).

• Bees get a bad rep. If you’d like to support them, you can plant bee-utiful plants on your yard’s perimeter, such as Blue Vervain.

• Learn more about supporting your local pollinators with your yard in this guide!

Want guidance on any other animals? Let me know!