Is your garden a deadly heat trap for your pets?

Pottering around the garden with a furry friend or two is something every pet lover enjoys in the summertime. However, as temperatures continue to smash heat records and amber and red weather warnings become the norm, it’s essential to be aware of the effect blistering hot weather can have on your outdoor spaces. 

And, if you’ve opted for artificial grass or composite decking, have a sun-drenched concrete patio or a garden room, this is even more important. These trendy outdoor features may look sleek and stylish, but they can also absorb, retain and radiate heat. This makes keeping your pets safe during spells of very hot weather extremely challenging.

Is your garden comfortable and usable?

“Brits spend much of the year looking forward to being able to enjoy their gardens," says garden surface expert Alex Essex. “Ironically, when a heatwave arrives, many people find parts of their outdoor space become too hot to comfortably sit, walk or spend time in. As summers become warmer, homeowners may need to think more about shade, planting and cooling elements to keep gardens comfortable and usable.”

The perils of artificial grass for pets

Garden designer Sam Proctor says: “If you’ve got kids or dogs or both, and have a busy life, it’s tempting to think that artificial turf might be a good solution for your garden. Marketed as a clean, low maintenance surface that’s safe for play, plastic grass is often seen as a quick and easy solution for homeowners who are tired of muddy patches, mess and mowing.” 

However, there’s a massive downside to having picture-perfect fake grass which, in the UK, currently covers 18million m² – more than six times the size of the City of London – according to research by the Royal Horticultural Society. 

“Many homeowners are unaware that artificial grass can become significantly hotter than natural lawn when exposed to direct sunlight for prolonged periods, making it uncomfortable underfoot during a heatwave. Something that’s overlooked by families with young children, and pets,” adds Alex Essex.

“Artificial grass is basically a synthetic woven product, including a top layer of nylon, polypropylene, or polyethylene fibres and an infill rubber layer,” explains Sam Proctor. “Astro turf heats up much quicker than natural grass, and during a hot summer can become too hot to walk on barefoot, to the point where it can be very damaging to your pet’s paws. The synthetic surface of artificial grass absorbs heat instead of cooling itself as a natural lawn does. The impact of adding artificial turf to your outside space can also add to the overall heat-island effect of cities, which are getting hotter and hotter.”

COOL TIP: Alex recommends adding surrounding planting (pet friendly of course!), creating shaded areas or introducing pergolas, which can help make spaces feel more comfortable during a heatwave.

The low-down on heat-storing composite decking  

With hectic lives, it’s no surprise that we’re hankering after low-maintenance outdoor living options to enjoy some downtime. Consequently, it’s tempting to consider durable composite decking, which is made from a mix of wood fibres and plastic, rather than traditional wooden decking that requires repairs and annual staining to look its best.

In fact, according to a new report by the Horticultural Trades Association 26% of people with gardens currently have paving or decking, with 34% planning to pave or deck their outdoor space within the next five years. However, as composite decking can heat up to uncomfortable temperatures, this could result in swathes of outdoor garden spaces in the UK becoming too hot for feet or paws on scorching summer days.

“Composite decking is a popular choice for homeowners looking to create dedicated seating and entertaining areas,” says Alex Essex. “However, darker composite boards can become particularly warm during prolonged periods of sunshine.”

COOL TIP: Alex suggests that adding outdoor rugs, parasols and strategically placed planting can help reduce direct sun exposure.

Large patios where heat lingers longer

If you want an elegant space to enjoy your morning coffee or for hosting alfresco dinner parties and barbecues with friends, a substantial concrete patio is a must-have for many.

According to the Royal Horticultural Society’s recent research, an astonishing 42% of UK garden space is now paved over, reflecting the growing popularity of hard-landscaped outdoor spaces. 

“While patios can create practical, low-maintenance areas for entertaining, large, uninterrupted paved areas can quickly become heat traps, absorbing and radiating heat throughout the day, particularly in gardens with little natural shade,” advises Alex Essex. “These surfaces can become extremely hot underfoot, increasing the risk of discomfort or even burns for children, pets and anyone walking barefoot in the garden.”

COOL TIP Alex recommends introducing container planting, shade structures or climbing plants around the patio area to help create a more comfortable outdoor space.

Garden rooms can trap heat causing a hot weather hazard

Ever dreamed of a secluded room in the garden which you could use as an office, studio, secret sanctuary or an extra space for entertaining your friends in? If so, you’re not alone. These adaptable, mini abodes have surged in popularity in recent years, with searches for ‘garden room’ up by an incredible 900% since 2004.

However, these highly desirable structures can become uncomfortably warm during hot weather if they are exposed to direct sunlight throughout the day, becoming lethal heat traps for curious pets who venture inside and can’t get out again.

COOL TIP: Apart from supervising your pets and always checking they’re not inside when you shut the door, Alex recommends that external shading, climbing plants, improved ventilation and reflective blinds can all help regulate temperatures more effectively.

What are the best ways to ensure your garden is green and cool?

• Plant trees One of the ways that we can keep our gardens cool is to plant trees, says landscape designer Rachael Austin, who has designed the Artisan Woodland Craft Garden to demonstrate how trees can improve cover and make gardens cooler. “It's a little bit like having a parasol up,” she says. “The larger the canopy cover, the cooler it can get, and you can lower the temperature by about 10C in a woodland.”
• Collect water A wet winter followed by a summer hosepipe ban is a tough deal for gardening fans who want a lush, green space with plenty of shade for humans and pets, not a dried-up desert. Saving as much rainwater as possible is the solution. Professional gardener Marcus Bergin told BBC News: “The first thing to do is get as many water butts as possible. In the winter, our water butts can fill up quite quickly.” 

Burgess in-house vet Dr Suzanne Moyes advises: “If you have pet animals, it’s absolutely essential that any outdoor space they have access to is pet-proofed and you consider their health and wellbeing when choosing new garden features. What’s more, thinking about how your garden can benefit your dog, become a rewarding space for your cat to explore or a shady haven for rabbits and guinea pigs could spark lots of creative ideas that result in a unique garden space that can be enjoyed safely by all the family – including the furry, four-pawed members!”

HOT PET ADVICE

Animals find it harder to cool down than we do. Unlike us humans, who have sweat glands all over our bodies to help us regulate our temperature, animals lack the ability to cool themselves down easily, which is why blazing hot weather can really affect them. 

Dogs and cats only have a few sweat glands around their noses and in their feet and rely on panting to cool themselves down. 

Small animals – such as rabbits, guinea pigs and ferrets – don’t sweat and can’t pant and so find high temperatures even more difficult.

These tips can help your pets keep their cool:

• Walk early or late to avoid taking your dog out during the hottest part of the day and plan your walks to include places where there's shade. Encourage your dog to slow down by setting a slower pace and giving them plenty of time to sniff out exciting smells with their nose.
• Keep your cat indoors during the hottest times of the day between 11am and 3pm. Cats are notorious sun seekers and can suffer from sun burn, particularly if they have white or light coloured fur, so apply a pet sunscreen to their nose and ear tips.
• Try stroking your rabbits', guinea pigs' or ferrets’ fur with a cool, damp flannel. With bunnies, carefully dampen their ears too, as this is the part of their body that they lose heat from. 
• Make your own small pet coolers from litre plastic bottles, three quarters filled with water and popped in the freezer. These can be placed under a towel or inside a sock so that your small pets can lean against them. Keep a close eye so that no chewing ensues!

Find out more about how to look after your pets in the sun >>

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