So how do you landscape the yard to be beautiful and meet your dogs’ needs at the same time?

When creating a dog friendly backyard, security and safety are top priorities.  You may want to include an attractive well-built fence in the backyard landscape plans. Build a sturdy fence around the perimeter of the backyard and put in gates for easy access. Place the gate latches high out of dogs and children’s reach. You may also want to use
Childproof latches.

And make sure that the fence and gates extend all the way down to the ground to discourage crawling underneath. If you have a dog that digs you will have to check the fence line to make sure he is not digging a tunnel to freedom. Yes, I have an escape artist residing at my residence so I have a sturdy dig proof fence!

You can also create a doggie-digging pit to meet your dogs digging needs. Taz the Spaz, my Australian Shepherd Cattle dog has his own dogging pit located near a pine tree.

If you rent or a fence is not an option a dog run may be the perfect solution. Whatever path you choose you need to know that your dog will remain in the yard and not wander off or get in the road and injured.

Other safety tips for a friendly backyard dog retreat.

• Make sure there is plenty of room for the dogs to exercise. If a dog has room to play and run they will not get bored and will be less destructive in the yard and to plants.
• Choose safe plants and shrubs for the yard.  Use grass, shrubbery and flowers but avoid tulips, lilies, rhododendrons and other plants that can be toxic.
• Place a doghouse or shelter in an area of the backyard that is protected from wind, rain and sun during the hottest part of the day. You may want to coordinate the color and style of doghouse to match the backyard-landscaping theme.
• Tall leafy or evergreen plants and bushes in the backyard will provide shade for the dogs on hot summer days. And a tall shady tree may be the dog’s favorite spot in the afternoon.
• Leave a grassy area of the backyard free of flowers and plants to allow the dog a romping and running area.
• Use both soft ground cover and hardscape materials in the backyard. A concrete patio or flagstone walkway will absorb sunlight and provide a warm spot where the dogs can lie on chilly days. And doggie digging pit will provide a cool spot on a hot day.
• Eliminate brambles and sharp stones from the backyard to protect the dogs from scratches and footpad damage.
• Remove any toxic liquids like pool supplies or anti-freeze from areas the dog my wander into.

With planning the backyard will be a pet friendly area that the entire family will enjoy.

Technorati Tags: backyard, backyard oasis design, dog friendly backyard

By reading books, looking online and even driving around the neighborhood with backyard design in mind you can collect ideas and find an idea that will be perfect for your backyard oasis and landscaping needs.

This you tube and a collection of ideas using plants, texture, hardscape, rock and visual design.

Many of the ideas would work in my yard if scaled down. I particularly liked the use of rock and the patio areas.

And being a garden fanatic, this you tube shows how small touches can create a beautiful garden. The plants, color and texture create small pieces of art where ever you look.

I hope these videos inspire you to create your own backyard paradise oasis area.

I am working on a design for the yard that includes, plants, shrubs, trees, steps and a railing and soon to be added – a driveway.

This you tube will give you some ideas for planning a design for a sloping yard.

Drainage for rain and removal of snow is also an issue with my landscape planning.

The most important part of a terraced design or layout for a slope is trying to plan for all the situations that might occur.

photo credit: hello-julie

Hang planters and hooks on the side of your home and place hardy plants in baskets. You will want hardy low maintenance plants that require less water than most plants. You don’t want to be running out watering these planters all the time. I often select geranium, ivy, marigolds, zinnias or a mix of herb plants. Garden art figurines will also look nice tucked in the planters for more color and interest.

Consider adding a collection of different size pots and containers and arrange them in a corner of a porch, patio, fence area or yard. This will give a feeling of height to the area and create a lush garden feeling.

Purchase a freestanding wrought iron plant hook for your garden and hang a basket filled with annuals. A planter placed high in a garden creates a focal point.

Consider planting climbing roses or clematis to wrap around deck posts. This will soften the sharp lines of your home and create a more private feel to the backyard.

Many for these tips can be done in a few hours at a reasonable cost. They will give your home and garden area a fresh look.

Technorati Tags: backyard design, backyard ideas, hanging baskets, patio ideas, planters

Anything cast in concrete or built of stone is hardscaped. Wood structures and built-in waterfalls are also hardscapes. One easy way to determine hardscape is if it is more permanent it’s hardscape and if it can be moved easily, it is probably more likely to be considered décor.

photo credit: mccun934

If it grows and is alive, it is ‘softscape’.

Hardscape adds to a landscpae and you can get stunning effects, but it takes time, planning, space and often is not a possibility if you rent.

You also need to realize that hardscape, being more permanent, should be well thought out before adding to you backyard or lawn.

I have several hardscape plans going to the yard this year. They include a terraced garden and a wood and rock stairway in the front yard area. Raised rock beds that also serve as flood control are under way and dry creeks are in the planning stages.

All these plans have been carefully laid out and all extra considerations have been taken into consideration. Considerations were traffic flow to the house, parking, drainage, runoff, checking any underground lines, and the fact it’s permanent. I also considered cost and how much maintenance it will take for upkeep and general lawn care. I was looking for low installation cost and to make yard work less demanding.

My hardscape plans will take all summer as I am doing them myself. The supplies are mostly free. When completed I should have made my yard easier to care for, less prone to runoff flooding and much prettier. I think the plans will also create more privacy in the yard.

As the projects are worked on links will be provided. These ideas may be something you could add to your yard.

Technorati Tags: backyard projects, Hardscaping, hardscaping design, landscaping