We all love it when our garden blooms with beautiful scents from flowers and crops, but so does our dog. And even though our pups have great intentions, their pawling, gnawing, and nosing seems to be doing the opposite. While they can destroy our plants, they can render our hard labor in vain.
Keeping your beloved pet out of the garden is no easy task, as their curiosity and determination usually far outweigh our own. But that doesn’t mean we should give up. We have put together some helpful tricks for keeping your dogs out of your garden without neglecting their health.
Table of Contents
1. Create a Fence
This is one of the best ways to keep your dog out of your garden. However, this depends on how big and determined your dog is. Block off the garden area using chicken wire or install a typical fence.
Chicken wire is easier to remove, but it won’t give your garden a pleasant sight.
If you are looking for something beautiful, create a feature fence border. They come in different variants, like wood, mesh, steel or bamboo.
2. Get Your Dog Busy
Dogs love digging, which is something they do as a sign of boredom. You can get your dog busy by giving it a handy toy, playing games or walking. It will keep your dog occupied throughout the day and prevent them from digging.
Most dogs sleep for hours after taking a walk. You can set up a toy bin outside to allow your dog to play with multiple toys to keep them from getting bored.
If your dog naturally loves digging, you can create a dog-friendly digging area, like a sandbox. And let your dog enjoy his digging in peace without running to ruin your garden.
3. Use Unfriendly Scents
Depending on the breed, a dog’s smell is about 1,000 to 10,000,000 times more sensitive than a human’s. So, dogs can smell what’s in your garden and get lured by the sweet smell of flowers. The same unpleasant smell will make them stay off.
Dogs dislike coffee grounds, vinegar, chili pepper, and citrus fruit. So, you can sprinkle a little in the garden to keep your dog away. However, be careful with vinegar as it can act as a weed and plant killer. Also, be sure to do your research to avoid picking a scent that will harm your dog.
You can also plant marigolds, which repel dogs and other pests, between vegetable rows, which repel dogs and other backyard pests. However, don’t use rabbit or deer repellents that contain coyote urine. Dogs love the smell of urine and will either roll in your sprayed plants or leave an odor of their own.
4. Use a Sprinkler
Dogs don’t like cold water, so a sprinkler system is a great way to keep your pets out of your garden. However, some dogs may enjoy it but observe and see if they do.
There are some awesome motion-activated sprinklers you can use to win this battle. Sometimes we win, sometimes we lose.
5. Keep Toys Around the Garden
If you place stimulating toys around your garden, your dog will be too busy to bother messing up your garden. There are lots of rewarding toys you can get for your dog. You can challenge them to play with treats as rewards over some time.
6. Sprinkle Yucky Tastes
Dogs dislike powdered mustard or red pepper flakes. Sprinkling it around your plants will keep your dog from returning when they take a few sniffs and licks of these unpleasant tastes.
7. Build a Natural Boundary
Many dogs won’t bother entering your garden if surrounded by thick bushes or dog-repelling plants. Most dog-repelling plants have sharp leaves or spines, so you don’t want to damage them.
You also have to consider if the plants have the potential to damage your dog. Overall, this method is very result-driven.
8. Use Ultrasonic Deterrents
Since dogs have higher hearing frequency than humans, you can use ultrasonic deterrents on them—ultrasonic deterrents work by producing sounds at ultra frequencies that will repel your pup without disturbing the neighbors.
However, these sounds don’t deter all dogs, but it may be worth trying.
9. Provide a Pooch Path
Create a path if your dog walks through your garden and doesn’t destroy your veggies. You can place a spare carpet on your dog’s favorite paths or lay mulch on the path. The only downside is that you may have to alter your garden design.
Other Dog-Friendly Gardening Tips
Here are other dog-friendly gardening tips to consider:
Consider Container Gardening- Growing plants in raised containers and pots rather than directly planting on the ground can prevent dogs from invading your garden. Container planting also prevents crops from dog digging and colder weather.
Avoid Pesticides and Herbicides. Use organic gardening for your plants as much as you can. Using pesticides and herbicides can make your furry sick. If you have to kill undesired pests, use pet-safe weed killers.
Frequently Asked Questions [FAQs]
1. What Can You Put On The Ground To Keep Your Dog Away?
Vinegar and ammonia are two of the most effective repellents for dogs. Spray them around, and your dog won’t return. However, don’t apply the mixture on your plants; only spread one of them throughout your garden.
2. Do Coffee Grounds Deter Dogs?
Yes, dogs aren’t fond of coffee grounds. Plus, they are great for your garden soil. So, you can spread them around, and your dog will stay away.
3. What Keeps Pets Out Of Gardens?
Set some thorny branches in the ground or create a chicken fence to protect the entire garden from pets.
4. How Can I Keep My Neighbor’s Dog Out Of My Garden?
The motion-sensitive sprinkler can keep your neighbor’s dog out of your garden day and night. It also works effectively for wild animals, such as skunks and raccoons.
Wrap Up!
Plants and pets don’t always mix, as their pawing and clawing can destroy plants. Instead of giving up and letting them dig holes and break stems, try out these few steps we have numbers above and let us know how it goes.
However, the response from your dog may vary. So don’t give up if some of the above tips don’t work for your fluffy one.
