Plants that stand up to the Lifted Leg

Don’t you just cringe when you see your beloved pup run up to your prized Azalea and relieve themselves seemingly forever? Worst yet is watching your neighbor walking his dog around the block and make a pit stop at your newly planted parking strip.

In our household we strive to keep on friendly terms with our neighbors. It’s a “pick your battles” situation. We chose to be proactive with this scenario. We did some digging to find which plants hold up best to the effects of pet urine.

Try these plants in high pet traffic areas
Remember that newly planted material may be vulnerable in its first two years. Add organic matter before planting and water regularly.
1. Kinnickinnick – An evergreen groundcover
2. ‘Karl Foerster’ Feather Reed Grass – Has vertical habit
3. Rosa rugosa – An old fashioned shrub rose
4. Oregon Grape – A sturdy native evergreen shrub
5. Salal – Small native evergreen shrub

This isn’t an issue found exclusively with males, you’ll even see female dogs lifting their legs on shrubs and trees, however it’s more common to find them squatting on the lawn leaving brown appearing in their favorite spots. It’s important to understand why urine has negative affects on plant material. Urine has a high concentration of nitrogen which is good for plant growth in low doses but too much of a good thing can have adverse affects. Some professionals will recommend immediately flushing the spot with water to dilute the affects. Not a realistic solution for people with busy lives.

What you can do
1. Establish a designated potty spot and be vigilant in training your dog to use it.
2. Place a vertical element such as a column rock or a piece of upright driftwood   and collect a specimen to scent the object, establishing this as their ‘spot’.
3. Be sure your dog drinks plenty of fresh water, especially in summer. This helps to dilute their urine.
4. Locate the hardy plants suggested above near the areas your pooch frequents when it’s time to go.

Whether you’re looking to replace a failing plant or setting an example with proactive changes to your “hell strip”, these efforts will offer peace of mind knowing you’ve taken steps towards a friendlier garden for your four-legged friends and one less worry for you. Feel free to contact me if you’re interested in making changes in your garden with your pet in mind.
 

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