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Planting to protect terrace level

paulmccormickpaulmccormick Posts: 5
edited December 2019 in Garden design
Hi, we have a gorgeous puppy and he is out in the garden now more and more and I need to look at options for protecting the drop we have from the terrace to the courtyard, see photo.

I have thought of Box or Lavender to create a low hedge, what are people's thoughts?

many thanks, 

Paul


Posts

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    Welcome to the forum. 
    I'm not sure what you're asking for. Is the dog really  likely to fall off the top?
    Devon.
  • paulmccormickpaulmccormick Posts: 5
    thanks for the welcome. Yes we are worried as he is running around the terrace that he might chase something over the edge. We are also looking to plant up the area too, I have created a veg plot to the left which is just out of shot.

    So was thinking of putting in a low hedge to protect the drop, and then plant up behind it, the view is from the kitchen.
  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,889
    I don't know much about dogs, but IMHO it's unlikely to fall off.
    Devon.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Dogs are like cats aren't they,  more likely to fall on all four feet? You could plant a small low hedge, probably a prickly one, if you really thought it necessary but you would then have to erect a puppy proof barrier to protect the hedge while it grew.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • paulmccormickpaulmccormick Posts: 5
    Rik56 said:
    What breed is your dog?
    He is a Cavapoo
  • paulmccormickpaulmccormick Posts: 5
    philippa smith2 said:
    As above, I don't think your puppy is likely to fall off the terrace. If you are really concerned, put him/her on a lead and walk h/h along the edge of the terrace for a couple of weeks - dogs are often more sensible than given credit for. 
    As to what you plant along the edge, what do you fancy and what is the orientation ?
    Bear in mind that to plant shrubby stuff, you may need to consider making a reasonable border and thereby cutting into your lawn.
    The area is south facing, so my thoughts so far are to put up a rose arches to create a walk way from the steps to the veg patch and have plants on each side (cottage garden style).

    So was thinking of planting lavender or box as a low hedge. thanks 
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    My thoughts are that a bouncy puppy/young dog may not see a low hedge as a barrier but rather as something to jump over ... without realising there’s a drop on the other side. 

    I’d rather put a temporary fence of a decent height along there so he doesn’t think about jumping over, until he’s old enough to have learned what is and isn’t possible for a dog ... and flying is in the ‘not possible’ bracket 😉 



    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • paulmccormickpaulmccormick Posts: 5
    thanks everyone for your advice, I won't bother protecting the edge and instead get cracking with the rest of the garden planting :) happy new year
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