How to Build a Green Doghouse
Even your dog can live green. Rooftop gardens are all the rage now because they are environmentally friendly, but you can go a step further and help keep our air clean. Why not build a doghouse with a roof garden? It can offer butterflies and hummingbirds a place to rest and keep your dog cooler at the same time. Although commercial versions can cost as much as $4,000, you can build one yourself for considerably less. Here's how to build a green doghouse. Does this Spark an idea?
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Things You'll Need
- Lumber for the doghouse
- Non toxic glue
- Bamboo for water spouts
- Red cedar
- Drill
- Beeswax
- Soil mix
- Native plants
Instructions
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Build your doghouse with red cedar according to the size of your dog and the space you have for the doghouse. The difference is not in the doghouse, but in the roof. Shape the roof like a box and slope it about 20 degrees, so water can run out. Now you have a box on top of the doghouse that slopes and can hold soil.
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2
Drill holes along the bottom of the slope, on the side of the box for bamboo spouts. Water will drain out these holes. Let the bamboo stick out about 3-inches from the hole.
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Caulk the seams of the box and caulk where the bamboo sticks out. Glue the box to the doghouse. Use a non toxic, waterproof glue. Paint the box with eco-friendly paint or stain.
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4
Cover the rooftop with two layers of melted natural beeswax. Add a drainage layer using an inch of gravel. Cover that with a piece of landscape cloth that is larger than the roof. Make the cloth slightly larger than the roof so you can glue the excess fabric to the box. That way the soil can't leak out underneath it.
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Add 4 inches of planting medium. Keep in mind that 60 percent pumice, 10 percent sand and 30 percent organic soil have been tested and works well. Plant the rooftop with non-poisonous plants. Use native plants, so you will not have to water the roof unless you are in a drought. Water them during the first couple of weeks to start them off. After that, they should be just fine and keep your dog cool and comfy.
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