How To Keep Dogs Out Of Flower Beds

Pests aren’t the primary danger to flower beds; even pet dogs can be! 

Everyone knows I love my dogs dearly. However, they can be a little too curious and naughty at times, especially when exploring my beautiful garden. Unfortunately, their unquenchable curiosity leads them to repeatedly dig up my flower beds - something I needed to stop at the earliest. 

So, I did what any 21st-century woman would do - I went on the internet for answers! Luckily, I found several other pet owners and their beautiful flower beds suffering the same fate as mine. And they provided me with a bunch of tips that would help keep my dogs away from the flower beds. 

Hi! I’m Stacy, and today I will tell you the tips and tricks I used to keep my curious dogs out of the flower beds. Hopefully, these tips will help you do the same. Since dogs are very intelligent, they will soon understand that their presence near the flower beds is unwanted. 

So without further delay, let’s begin!

How To Keep Dogs Out Of Flower Beds

Why Do Dogs Dig Flower Beds?

If there are over a dozen articles and blogs on the topic online, you can be sure that the problem is not isolated to your pets. In reality, dogs (and cats) are equally curious to explore new smells, sounds, and sights. Moreover, you may think that only puppies go through the “digging up everything” phase, but you would be wrong. 

Several larger breeds continue their “digging phase” even after they turn into adult dogs. 

So, you may be wondering why dogs dig up flower beds. This is a good question, and finding the answer may help you address the issue without experimenting with several tips and tricks. 

The most common reasons why your dog may be digging up the flower beds are: 

• Out of boredom 
• To find insects and pests
• They may be feeling hot and looking for a cool place to lie down 
• They are curious about a new scent emanating from the flower bed

Ways To Keep Dogs Out Of Flower Beds

Now that you are aware of some of the most common reasons for dogs digging up flower beds, let us move on to the next section. Here, I will answer your queries on how to keep dogs out of flower beds with some excellent tips and tricks. 

1. Build A Fence

One of the easiest and most obvious ways to keep dogs out of your beautiful flower beds is to build a fence. If you are looking for a quick and easy solution, consider adding chicken wire around the perimeter of the flower bed. 

Of course, keep in mind that this fence is not aesthetically pleasing and could play a significant role in ruining the general aesthetics of your garden. That being said, chicken wires are extremely flexible and can be cut and bent easily. Moreover, they are super effective in keeping the dogs out. 

Alternatively, you could build a decorative fence that does the job of keeping the dogs out while adding aesthetic value to the garden. You can use wood, steel, or mesh to do this. Of course, there is another solution - adding a barrier of prickly flowers or bushes. 

Flowers like Holly and Rose blend beautifully into any garden. However, the last thing dogs like is to be pricked by their thorns. These flowers can form an excellent natural barrier to your flower beds. 

2. Use Distracting Scents

Keep in mind that your dog’s nose is over 1,000 times stronger than a human’s. As such, any smell is magnified as their noses are hyper-sensitive. 

You can use this to your advantage by placing specific scents around the flower beds, which most dogs will find unpleasant. Bear in mind that the smells should not be toxic or harmful to the dogs, your plants and flowers, or anyone else around you. 

Some of the most common distracting scents are - 

• Coffee grounds 
• Vinegar (do not spray this directly on plants and flowers)
• Chili pepper 
• Lemongrass oil 
• Citrus fruits

3. Install A Sprinkler System 

Install a well-timed and well-placed sprinkler system in the garden to keep the dogs away from your flower beds. Large dog breeds will likely end up enjoying the sprinkler more than digging through mud and grass, which can turn out to be a welcome distraction and protect your flower beds. 

Moreover, most dogs will find the addition of a sprinkler system more interesting, and it could become a place for them to cool off. 

4. Distract Them With Their Favorite Toys

You might be surprised to see how easy it is to distract a dog with its favorite toys. Keep a dedicated “play area” in the garden where your dog can access all their favorite playthings. 

Furthermore, consider adding a little peanut butter (unsalted) inside a chew toy. This will keep them engaged for hours and prevent them from digging up the beautiful flower beds. 

5. Create A Garden Moat

This next idea is similar to creating a fence or a barrier. However, I found the makeshift garden moat to be a more aesthetic solution to wire fences. 

For my garden, I opted for a makeshift moat made of pinecones. Not only does this add aesthetic value to my yard, but my dogs hate the texture under their sensitive paws and have effectively stayed away from the flower beds ever since.

Final Words