I've got a nanny who watches my kids from 7:30 AM to 6 PM, four days a week, and she brings her two dogs along. Unfortunately, I just found a pile of dog poop in my raised vegetable patch! The security footage shows that the dogs, especially the great dane and the lab, are not only jumping into the garden but also peeing on the plants. Since they're quite large dogs, I'm wondering if there are effective ways to keep them out of my garden while they're here.
4 Answers
I understand your struggle! I've recently faced similar issues with my puppy damaging my garden. I ended up putting up short panels around my plants and even bought a playpen to limit where the dog could go. For your raised beds, a fence would probably be your best bet to keep them from getting in and making a mess.
You can consider using T-posts and some chicken wire fencing, which can be a simple and effective solution. Just make sure it’s tall enough so that the dogs can’t easily jump over it.
One option is to talk to your nanny about not bringing her dogs over anymore since they’re messing with your garden. It might be a bit of a tough conversation, but it could help preserve your plants. You could also ask her to train the dogs not to enter that area or consider setting up a secondary fence specifically for the garden to keep them out. If possible, set aside another area in the yard where the dogs can roam freely.
You might want to try some netting over your garden. It could keep the dogs from jumping in and doing their business. Additionally, using some natural deterrents like coyote urine or a mixture of astringent oils (like clove and cinnamon) could help repel them. Also, it's probably a good idea to remind your nanny to clean up after the dogs if they do go in your yard.
That’s a great idea! I hadn’t thought about the playpen approach.