Dogs love to dig in flowerbeds and gardens, and why wouldn’t they? Digging is fun! The soil is usually soft and warm, and dogs never know what they might find. You really can’t blame a dog for trying to dig in a garden or flowerbed. Digging is part of their nature.
Not only did my dog Jasmine dig in my flowerbeds, but she also raided my vegetable garden. At first I couldn’t understand why my tomatoes weren’t ripening, and those I thought were just about ripe would disappear before I could pick them. One day I noticed my dog exiting my flowerbeds and eagerly entering my garden, and before I could utter a word, she proceeded to chomp down a ripe red tomato. I didn’t think dogs liked tomatoes, but apparently my dog did, and besides digging in my flowerbeds she also added fresh veggies to her regular diet. I had to do something to keep her out of my flowerbeds and my garden.
The following information provides safe ideas and ways to keep dogs out of flowerbeds and gardens. If you’re finding your flowers destroyed and your garden raided and damaged, give these ideas a try. Dogs don’t realize they’re doing anything wrong when they dig in flowerbeds and gardens. They’re doing what comes naturally, and here you’ll find effective ways to keep your dogs out of your flowerbeds and gardens once and for all.
Precautionary Statement
Some people recommend mothballs to keep dogs out of flowerbeds and gardens, but mothballs should never be used within reach of children and pets. Do not use mothballs to keep your dogs out of your flowerbeds and gardens. They can be toxic. Much safer methods are available, and although methods that work for some will not work for others, one of the following methods will keep your dogs from digging in your flowerbeds and raiding your gardens.
This isn’t a guaranteed way to keep dogs out of gardens and flowerbeds, but it works for some. Many dogs don’t like walking on sharp stones, and sharp decorative stone chips placed around flowers in flowerbeds just might work to keep your dogs out of your flowerbeds. If you’re willing to invest in decorative stone chips, give this idea a try. If this idea doesn’t work to keep your dogs out, the following ideas can be used as well.
Most canines have an aversion to red pepper flakes, and they work well to keep dogs out of flowerbeds and gardens. The red pepper flakes have the same effect on dogs as they do on people. They cause a lot of sneezing and watery eyes, but dogs have a keen sense of smell, and they’ll avoid the area altogether.
Red pepper flakes purchased in bulk are a cost-effective option since small bottles of red pepper flakes sold in grocery stores are already grossly overpriced. Shop in ethnic stores or bulk food stores to find affordable red pepper flakes for the gardens and flowerbeds. Not only will the red pepper flakes keep out dogs, but they’ll also keep away cats, raccoons, moles, ground squirrels, and other animals that have access to your property.
Have you ever considered surrounding your gardens and flowerbeds with a charming white picket fence? Depending on the size of your dogs and their climbing ability, a white picket fence with a garden gate might be all that you need to keep them out for good. Not only will it keep out your dogs, but depending on the location of your gardens and flowerbeds, it will also add a lot of charm and appeal to your property.
I ended up using chicken wire to keep my dog from eating the tomatoes in my gardens. The green chicken wire blended in well with the surroundings, and it was tall enough to keep my dog out but short enough to allow me to step over. Consider surrounding vegetable gardens with chicken wire. It’s inexpensive, and in many cases it works very well to keep out dogs and other animals.
Chicken wire surrounding flowerbeds wouldn’t look attractive at all, but chicken wire can still be used in flowerbeds if it’s placed on the ground. Unless your dogs have a taste for flowers, the chicken wire placed flat on the ground surrounding flowers and plants will keep them from digging.
Sandbox
If you have dogs that should have been named Digger, don’t completely take away their fun. Consider buying or building a sandbox especially for your dogs. Encourage your dogs to play in the sandbox and place their toys in the area so they know it’s theirs. Praise your dogs when they play in their sandbox, and make it clear that flowerbeds and gardens are completely off limits. The assumption that animals are dumb couldn’t be further from the truth, and you can teach your dogs to stay out of gardens and flowerbeds.
Many pet supply stores sell granules especially for gardens and flowerbeds, and these granules are safe to use around animals and kids. It’s not cheap, but it effectively keeps dogs out of restricted areas, and you can find products like these online as well as in many retail pet supply stores. It’s is a cheaper option than decorative stone and picket fencing, and it’s very easy to apply.
