Dogs can wreak havoc on flower beds and on other types of landscaping plants. Many dogs enjoy ripping the flowers apart while others just see flower beds as an opportunity to dig. There are ways to keep dogs out of your flower beds without resorting to building a fence to keep the dogs completely out of your yard.
Things You'll Need
- Red pepper
Instructions
Sprinkle red pepper in the area where dogs have been digging. This works best if the dogs have been trying to eat the flower or chew on the bulbs. Red pepper won't harm the plants, but it will quickly teach a dog never to chew there again.
Place pots of cacti around the area that you don't want disturbed, or plant cacti around the edges of the flower bed if your soil will support them.
Mix 10 parts rubbing alcohol with one part cayenne pepper or powdered hot peppers. Let the mixture sit for about a day and then load it into an empty spray bottle. Spray the mixture on the plants or around the edges of the flower bed to keep dogs out. The mixture causes sneezing and will discourage dogs from being near the flower bed area.
Startle the dogs every time they enter the flower bed. This works best if you own the dogs and know when they will be outside and in the flower beds. Jumping at the dogs, making a loud noise and squirting them with a small spray bottle filled with only water can startle them into leaving the area. Do this whenever you see the dogs in your flower bed and they will learn not to go in that area.
Plant roses or other thorny vines that you can drape across the border of the flower bed. Crossing that line once will be enough to teach the dog that it's a dangerous area.