by Linda Ann Nickerson

Created on: May 07, 2007   Last Updated: June 16, 2011

Preventing Pestering Pets from Pillaging Plantings

Horticulture is a happy hobby, unless our furry friends stomp and soil our beloved beds.

As gardeners, we gladly spend hours on our knees, coaxing our plantings to sprout and flourish. We cultivate, weed, and mulch. We even bring in beneficial bugs.

Just when everything begins to look lush and lovely and buds begin to bloom, the neighbor’s dog tromps through the tulips, dumps on the daylilies, and collapses the columbines. A curious cat paws at our peonies and decapitates the daisies or dahlias.

Or a pet decides to make a well-manicured garden his or her own personal puppy park or litter bed.

What’s a good neighbor to do? How can a pet owner keep his or her own domesticated creatures from destroying the garden? Here are three pointers for preventing pets from ruining outdoor plantings.

Find a Fence.

Constructing an impenetrable border around your garden will keep uninvited guests out. This barrier is essential for gardeners who hope to produce vegetables, fruits or cut flowers.

However, it may cut down on your colorful garden view, unless you fence your entire yard.

Another option is to keep cats indoors and to leash dogs in the yard. Fenced dog runs or long cables can be helpful to prevent dogs from reaching gardens at all.

Some home horticulturalists place their most delicate plantings in hanging baskets to keep them out of reach of pesky pets.

Repel the Intruders.

Many gardeners take multiple steps to make their plantings attractive to humans, but unappealing to pets.

Commercial plant sprays and homemade remedies may deter dogs and cats. Garlic, hot pepper, soapy water, or even citrus tend to offend their delicate sense of smell. Cats detest citronella, so candles or mosquito plants may be helpful.

Placing cedar shavings (or cedar mulch) around your beds will reduce canine and feline motivation to visit.

Got pine trees? Scatter spiny pine cones in your garden plots, to eliminate any soft sleeping or digging spots.

Cover young plants with chicken wire, mesh, or dried grapevines to keep pets off.

Lose the Catnip.

If you’re an herb gardener, you may want to rethink that catnip. It’s an elixir to the feline world. Plant a bit of catnip in a pot, if you can’t live without it. Place the pot in a strategic location, removed from your garden plot, to lure cats away from your plantings.

Pick your precautions, or employ all three strategies, to keep pets out of plantings and preserve your garden beds.

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