When we first moved into our house, there was nothing in the backyard but rocks. When we decided to start growing some of our own veggies, we quickly learned that Mika (our always starving Husky mix) would prefer to just eat everything herself. And when I say everything, I mean everything. So, we decided that we would have to create a dog run…a part of the yard that was just for the dogs. So, Tool Lady fenced off a space for the dogs to do their doody and to get their wiggles out when they really just want to fight/play in the living room.
The problem with this space is that, in the winter, it really gets no sun. This means that snow and ice linger here until the weather officially shifts from winter-mode into late spring-mode. This also means that it’s pretty miserable for the dogs when it’s cold outside. So, what we try to do each winter is throw down some fresh mulch for them. The mulch not only makes it more comfortable for the dogs to do their doody, but it also makes the yard smell so nice and fresh!
Now, all that mulch could get pretty expensive (and has in the past), but, most years, our city mulches peoples Christmas trees and leaves huge piles of said mulch, free for the taking, at a park just down the street from us!
It usually has a bit of tinsel in it, but the dogs don’t mind and neither do we! And after a few trips down the road and back, the dog run is just like new!!! Of course, true to form, Mr. runs and jumps and wants to play while Mika must first investigate/sniff out every last bit of the newness.
That’s a great idea. We mulch the plants, but who would’ve thought of mulching dogs too!
Lol…Right?! It makes them so happy! It also helps keep the mud in the yard and not on our floors when they come running in after a good play 🙂