by Suzy Banks
Sixteen
Paws in the
Season of Mud
Dear Suzy,
Cleo, Cheyenne, Shadow, and Niki have taken over the deck, the yard and,
for that matter, my life. The winter season, i.e., rain, is upon us. Besides
continuing to enlarge my deck and putting in a volleyball pit, what’s the best
method to take care of 16 legs trampling the area (aka backyard) behind
my house. Oh, don’t suggest ridding my home of the dogs because they would
never accept the change of address.
Mush, mush, woof, woof,
– Laura A.
Dear Laura,
I would never suggest getting rid of the dogs. Such a suggestion might
jeopardize my entry into Doggie Heaven when the time comes. And it’s the only
heaven I’m interested in inhabiting. From where I sit as I write this, I can
see the hole my dog Sadie has dug in the sheetrock by the door that I’ll have
to patch for the third time this year. I can see the stack of window screens I
have to repair that she’s broken through during thunderstorms. I can hear my
other dog, Hud, trying to force entry into the cat room to eat their… oh, you
know. And still, I love them.
But I know what you mean about 16 paws and the season of mud. I talked with
John Dromgoole at Garden-Ville. Not only does he have more landscaping
knowledge in his big green thumb than I have in my shriveled gray brain, he
also loves dogs. “First, decide what you want from your backyard and draw up a
design based on those needs,” says John.
He suggested pathways of decomposed granite, noting that his dogs prefer a
nice trail as opposed to wilderness treks through the high grass and bumpy
flower beds. (My dogs, too. They think they’re poodles. Sadie actually tip-toes
if the ground is damp.) He also recommended landscaping incrementally, dividing
your yard into four or five parts, putting a low fence (available at Montopolis
Supply) around each section until it’s established. If the fence doesn’t deter
the pooches, try mulching with pine cone mulch from Bastrop – plentiful and
free, but uncomfortable for lounging across. “It’s not a fun mulch for dogs,”
says John.
Even dogs have to learn that not everything in
life is fun.
It’s no fun without your letters. E-mail me at: Suzebe@aol.com or
write me here at the Chron,
PO Box 49066, Austin, TX 78765.
This article appears in September 29 • 1995 and September 29 • 1995 (Cover).