Tips to Keep Dogs Out of Flower Beds
Dogs like to dig. For the most part, dirt is a dog's friend. Most dog owners know the value canines place on depositing a cherished bone in a hole in the backyard. When the hole appears right smack in the middle of your flower garden, it's time to find a solution. Trying to keep dogs out of flower beds can be a daunting and expensive task, especially when excessive digging damages plants, shrubs and flowers.
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Why Dogs Dig
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Fluffy fur begs for a cooling spot during the hottest part of the day. If you've ever caught your pooch stretched on out the bathroom tile or in the garden mulch, the dog is smarter than you think. He's cooling his body down with the help of the tile or dirt. So despite being convinced your dog deliberately digs up your plants, it's a very natural reaction to seeking a nice cool spot. Fighting this natural tendency takes persistence or obstructions to the behavior but never punishment in the form of smacking or hitting. If you have trained your dog to stay off the sofa, you can train him to stay out of the garden.
Obstructions
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Some dogs are simply diggers. Certain breeds just dig like puppies for their entire lives. Many gardens have space between plants that just invite dodging, trampling and rolling on the cool garden mulch. Discourage this behavior by placing large rocks throughout the garden. Make sure to space the rocks to prevent a comfortable place for the animal to flop down. The lack of comfort will send your critter on his way to find another place to relax.
Create a stick garden by literally planting sticks on end around tender plants. Make access as difficult as possible, especially for those animals that like to dig up plants in the garden. If you want to discourage entry into the garden, install a lot of sticks. Do not sharpen the ends to protect against injury. Vary the size and spacing to discourage any entry into the garden at all. Try placing flat pieces of chicken wire on the ground between plants to make the soil very uncomfortable for soft paws.
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Fences
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Creating a fenced barrier around a garden will prevent most dogs from entering the garden. It's just too much work to hop a fence solely to find a sleeping spot. This might seem unsightly but weigh the damage to your plants against the inconvenience of designing a fenced in garden. Wire fencing, low wooden fences and chicken wire provide viable options to deterring a dog from entering your garden. Sometimes jumping a 2-foot fence just isn't worth it to a dog.
Move the Gardens
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Dogs have routines and habitual roaming areas in every yard. If your dog likes to chase the invisible dog on the other side of the fence, simply move the gardens to allow room for him to run. It's a lot of work but leaving space for exercise allows the best of both worlds for you and your dog. Create clear areas on the dog's normal pathways to prevent damage to your plantings. Leave the mulch in place to discourage weeds.
Water
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Spritz the dog with a hose when he enters the garden bed. Training the animal this way won't harm him. You might just get lucky and train the dog in a week. Activated sprinklers offer a more expensive option but will take care of any concerns when you're away from home. Yes, even though you think your dog is sofa trained, he's probably stretching out on the sofa the moment you go out the door. Similarly, an activated sprinkler will discourage play in the garden when you aren't present, ensuring your prized plants aren't damaged.
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