Tuesday, September 27, 2005
Pet Yard Protection
Question: "I have spent a great deal of time in my yard making it look perfect. My lawn is manicured and my garden is full of beautiful flowers that were expensive and took a lot of time to cultivate. How can I protect my outdoor environment from the damage that neighborhood pets can do?”
Thanks so much for your question. I think you've hit the nail on the head for lots of green thumbs who are frustrated with this bothersome but common problem. Whether the pet is your own or your neighbor's, it can do considerable damage to your lawn and garden in a relatively short period of time. But since you can't kill the animal, which is what many homeowners would prefer to do, you must come up with an effective strategy for dealing with these pooch problems.
For your own pet, the first thing you need to do is find an acceptable area in your yard for your pet to go potty. It will take some time to get them used to going to this area to do their business. But once that is established, you will be in a much better position to protect your environment. Start with sending them behind a stand of tress or in a patch of ivy or mondo grass. Other options are short wire fences to corral your garden area or a selection of deterrent sprays that protect your vital areas.
Discourage dogs from digging in your garden by catching Fido in the act and applying the appropriate disciplinary measure. If your dog is a natural digger (i.e. a Jack Russell Terrier), provide him or her with a sandbox and encourage its use. If your dog is small, consider making raised planting beds out of reach. Provide your pooch with a reward system for doing the right things to help you protect your garden or lawn.
Thanks so much for your question. I think you've hit the nail on the head for lots of green thumbs who are frustrated with this bothersome but common problem. Whether the pet is your own or your neighbor's, it can do considerable damage to your lawn and garden in a relatively short period of time. But since you can't kill the animal, which is what many homeowners would prefer to do, you must come up with an effective strategy for dealing with these pooch problems.
For your own pet, the first thing you need to do is find an acceptable area in your yard for your pet to go potty. It will take some time to get them used to going to this area to do their business. But once that is established, you will be in a much better position to protect your environment. Start with sending them behind a stand of tress or in a patch of ivy or mondo grass. Other options are short wire fences to corral your garden area or a selection of deterrent sprays that protect your vital areas.
Discourage dogs from digging in your garden by catching Fido in the act and applying the appropriate disciplinary measure. If your dog is a natural digger (i.e. a Jack Russell Terrier), provide him or her with a sandbox and encourage its use. If your dog is small, consider making raised planting beds out of reach. Provide your pooch with a reward system for doing the right things to help you protect your garden or lawn.
