How to Keep Dogs Out of Flower Gardens

Do you have a flower garden that is your pride and joy? Do you spend endless hours weeding, feeding and pruning your flowers, only to have your rambunctious outdoor dog trample, eat and otherwise destroy them? Or maybe it's not your dog: Maybe the neighbor is irresponsible and lets her pet wander all over the neighborhood, destroying many a flower garden in his path. Do you wish you could find a way to keep your dog or other people's dogs out of your flower garden? Here's how to do just that.

Things You'll Need

• Wood and nails
• Chicken wire or other fencing
• Dog kennel
• Invisible dog fencing kit
• Garden chemicals

Instructions

1. Raise the bed. Flower gardens thrive in raised flower beds, and if yours is high enough, your dog probably won't be able to jump into it. You can make an inexpensive flower bed by building it out of two-by-fours, but if you already have an established flower garden, it will be hard to transplant them all.

2. Fence the flower garden. You don't have to wrap unattractive chicken wire around it to keep a dog out, although that would be an inexpensive option. Instead, build an attractive picket fence around it, complete with a cottage gate for you to enter and exit the garden. Even large dogs usually cannot jump over a picket fence.

3. Repel the dog. If you cannot, or don't want to, fence in or raise your flower garden, consider investing in an "invisible" or electronic dog fence. Place the sensors around your flower garden, fit your dog with the special collar, and she won't go near the flowers. This is an expensive option, however--perhaps more expensive than the flowers!

4. Move the flower garden entirely. If your dog usually remains in the backyard, consider moving the flower garden to a side or front yard. This is a good option if you have not yet established your garden. That way, you can fully enjoy the garden without navigating a fence or trying to weed in a raised flower bed.

5. Move the dog. Build a dog kennel for your pet to play in. Make sure it has shade and a comfortable place for your dog to rest, as well as room to play. If you are feeling particularly nice, build it where he has a lovely view of the flowers. That way, he can look but not touch!

6. 

   Use chemicals. Most garden centers sell chemicals designed to repel animals from gardens. They are usually in grain form, and can work for up to 3 months. Check the label, however, as they can be dangerous to pets if ingested. Some dogs will eat just about anything, so if your dog is one of them, this may not be the best choice for you.

Tips & Warnings

• If it is not your dog but a roaming dog that is bothering your flower garden, try contacting the owner and complaining. If that doesn't work, call your city's animal-control office.

• Do not forcefully try to remove a strange dog from your garden or yard. It could be dangerous!

Resources

• A great article about keeping dogs out of your garden