 Building a Better Backyard for your Petpet
by dancerchickemily
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Congratulations on bringing home your brand-new Petpet from the Petpet Puddle! You’ve spent all that time with your Neopet, updating your Neohome with a nursery and adding fun, Petpet-proofed toys and gadgets in each room. While your Neopet initially might spend most of their time indoors enjoying their new bundle of fluff, scales or shells, it’s never too early to consider what you’d like to have for them outside. After all, your Neopet is going to do most of the caring for their Petpet, so it’s only fair to help them out by creating a backyard all the Petpets at daycare will be jealous of. Let’s start by considering the greenery. You’ll want to make sure none of your shrubs are poisonous or otherwise dangerous to Petpets. If you need to dig anything up, now is the time to do it. You may even know a neighbourly Bori who would like to help!  Bad Seed There is usually one of these in every Neofriend group. We recommend avoiding them there and here as well…unless you want to get mean stares all day.  Barrel Cactus While these might look pretty, your Petpet could get hurt if they get too close!  Exploding Pod Plant This plant could give your Petpet severe pollen allergies! You will be spending the day at the NeoHospital with them if they aren’t careful. Instead, we recommend planting any of these bushes, trees or flowers to make your yard pop. They’re also safe if your Petpet gets hungry and goes for a nibble.  Blackberry Bush Not only does this bush have a great aesthetic for the garden, but it can also provide your Petpet with some delicious snacks!  Chocolate Bush Great to look at, but even better to take a bite out of!  Heart Fruit Tree Who could resist a tree with fruit this cute?!  Negg Tree This cute tree is sure to bring all the Meercas to the yard. We can’t think of an easier way for your Petpet to make new friends.  Cotton Swab Flowers Who knows when you will need a cotton swab? Add some colour into the garden and save money on some medical supplies while you are at it.  Song Flowers Guaranteed to keep them entertained for at least a minute or two!
Now that you’ve gotten your landscaping figured out, let’s think about big ticket items: swing sets, slides and other larger-than-life lawn accessories.  Blue Trampoline This is a must have for when your Petpet wants to have friends over…or if they want to get some Hasee Bounce practice in!  Covered Slide This slide is a no-brainer and will help your Petpet have fun while getting some much needed exercise.  Decorated Gazebo It’s party time! This gazebo is the perfect spot to hang out in while your Petpet and all its friends enjoy some refreshing Chokato Neggnog.  Floral Garden Swing This swing will take your garden to the next level, as it is both functional and aesthetically pleasing.  Inflatable Bouncy Pirate Ship Also consider adding an Inflatable Squid or Squid Sprinklers next to your pirate ship for an extra fun playtime!  Jumbo Cell Block Board You know what is more fun than Cell Block? Jumbo Cell Block!!!  Jumbo Shapeshifter Board Another fun game to add to your jumbo collection!  Mynci Bars Add this to your set so your Mynci friends can come play when they get tired of playing beach volleyball.  Mystery Island Tree House It’s no mystery that adding in a tree house will make your garden pop!  Playground Bubbles Your whole Neofamily will love to play hide and seek in these!  Playground Tunnel Your Petpet will be doing zoomies all day in this.  Spiral Ice Skating Rink This is a great way to keep cool in the summer while still getting some exercise.  Yellow Roundabout This might make your Petpet dizzy, but the fun will be worth it!
You’ll also want some smaller playthings to help get out some of that Petpet energy — and your Neopet will thank you for it! We recommend:  Cricket Set Your Petpet will love to play this relaxing game and enjoy some of the summer sun rays.  Minigolf Hole This is the perfect way for your Petpet to practice some putt-putt.  Outdoor Hoop Game Practise this and your Petpet will be ready to win any game during a visit to the Deserted Fairgrounds.  Playground Blocks Stack these up and build an endless combination of things!  Skittles Whoever knocks down the least pins is buying dinner!  Slorg Paddling Pool Just look at how cute this pool is and then try to tell us you aren’t going to buy one!  Test Your Strength Outdoor Play Set Your Petpet can show off how strong it is! Great practice for when your Petpet wants to go play the real thing.  Tether Ball Try to see how many times you can spin the ball around.  Tire Swing This is great to add if you have any tall trees with sturdy branches.  Wheel of Misfortune Outdoor Play Set Hopefully your Petpet will be luckier playing this outdoor version!  Wooden Sandbox Make sure you also have a Blue Sandcastle Kit with all the accessories they’ll need to build their sandcastle.  Yellow and Red Croquet Set Set up a tournament to play, but be careful not to swing too hard!  Yooyuball Yard Set Play this when you need an Altador Cup fix!
If you, your Neopet, or your Petpet need some rest from all that fun but don’t want to head inside yet, consider adding these items as well:  Goldy Swinging Chair This is great for a relaxing swing in the breeze. No Goldies were harmed in the making of it.  Holiday Tiki Hammock Hang this on some trees, and then lay back and relax!  Igloo This would be great for a winter garden. Otherwise, enjoy it for a brief time before it melts!  Lost Desert Tent Perfect for your Petpet to have a slumber party in the yard with all its friends!
Finally, we want to point out a few more items that should be avoided at all costs in order to make your Petpet’s backyard the best — and safest! — it can be.  Blue Paradise Pond If your Petpet isn’t a strong swimmer, you’ll want to reconsider installing any ponds, pools, or other bodies of water of the non-paddling variety. And if your Petpet is naturally aquatic, you may not be able to get them to go back inside!  Bottomless Pit Their stomachs may remain bottomless pits, however.  Garden Catapult We wouldn’t want your precious Petpet turned into a Petpet Cannonball!  Mud Pit These are fine as long as you or your Neopet are willing to give your Petpet a bath after!
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