One of the most challenging parts of having a container garden is keeping your adorable pets away from your container garden. While containers may seem to be safe, you’ll never know what your playful dog or stubborn cat can do, unintentionally wreaking havoc on your prized garden. Luckily, there are a few simple actions you can take to avoid such a scenario, making your fresh fruits, veggies, and herbs safe from your pets’ paws. Here’s how to keep your pets out of your container garden. Also, find out some tips and tricks in playing the best Ninja Fruit Slot.
1. Spray or sprinkle items with unfriendly odors.
While your cat won’t likely bother to eat fruits and veggies, your container garden may appear like a free access salad bar to your pooch. To avoid your dog from munching your produce, you can get rid of his appetite by spraying pungent bitter apple or vinegar on coffee filters and placing them in different locations around your container garden. Nearly all pets also dislike citrus, so you may also use it in making a natural deterrent spray.
Alternatively, you may sprinkle black pepper, cayenne pepper, or mustard powder as most pets cannot stand the smell of spicy things. Once they take a whiff of these odors, they’ll surely be discouraged to go any further.
2. Make a path.
Regardless of where you’re keeping your container, there should be a specific path where your pets can go through without having to walk over and damage your growing fruits and vegetables. That way, they can pass through and get to their desired location using the allotted way and not by creating one of their own.
3. Provide your pets with toys.
Your plants can easily double up as toys for your pets. Why not? They’re colorful, have something to smack at, chew on, and other things to keep them busy. If you don’t want that happening, check these things. Do they have enough toys? Are their toys interesting enough? Can they access them whenever they want to? If you answer no in any of these questions, make necessary adjustments and additional fun toys that would occupy your pets’ time.
4. Ensure that your pet gets enough exercise.
There’s an old maxim that only speaks the truth: “A tired dog is a good dog.” Dogs have tons of energy, which they need to consume daily. If not, they may use any leftover energy to ravage your container garden instead.
To keep them calm, walk or run your dog for 30 minutes to two hours each day. It will benefit not only your container garden but your home, in general. Exercising keeps your pooch limber and healthy, and curb any behavioral problems, such as excessive digging, barking, chewing, licking, and other anxiety-linked behaviors.
Cats are no exception, with experts saying felines should do 15-30 minutes of moderate exercise daily. You can divide into two playtime sessions with a tassel or feather toy to keep your cat active, while your plants remain safe.
5. Use positive reinforcement.
Positive reinforcement is one of the simplest yet most effective ways of teaching your pets to stay out of your container garden. Whenever he listens to your instruction to keep himself off, reward him for his good behavior by giving him a small treat in your backyard or outside. Repeat the process and your pet will associate being away from your container garden with a positive experience. So, always have their treats handy and reward them right away when they do as you say.
6. Purchase a motion-activated sprinkler.
Most dogs and cats don’t like water, which is why getting a motion-activated sprinkler can be a huge help in deterring your pets from your container garden. This device works by detecting motion or heat using its infrared sensor. Once they wander into the area and the sensor picks up the sense of movement, it will shoot a sudden stream of water plus play startling sounds that will undoubtedly scare off your pets.
7. Plant prickly barriers.
To add some layer of protection, you can scatter cactuses, twigs, rose bushes or stems, twigs, juniper, or barberry trimmings to prevent your pets from going into your container garden. Your pets will never like these thorns and spiky objects to touch their soft pads when they try to enter the restricted area.
8. Don’t leave your pets unsupervised.
This tip is mainly applicable if you have puppies, kittens, or other younger pets. They are very curious about their surroundings, love to explore, and have lots of energy to spend, making it very likely for them to play with your precious plants. Note that it’s not destructive behavior, but rather a part of their learning stage. So, if they haven’t been trained yet, it’s best to watch for them at all times to make sure that their curious nature won’t lead them to smack or chew things in your container garden.
9. Set up a pet fence.
If all else fails, setting up a pet fence around your container garden is the long-term, most effective solution. However, you need to get the best type of fence for it to work.
You need to consider the height of the fence versus the size of your pet. For cats and smaller pooches, six-foot-high fencing is usually enough to protect your container garden. If you have taller, bulkier, and more athletic dogs, getting one with a top enclosure is your best resort. Next, you will need to decide what type of fence you’d be installing. Is it metal, wood, or a picket-style fence? You may also opt to add chicken wire mesh to make the fences even more efficient in keeping your pets away.
Meanwhile, you can do the opposite if your container garden is in your backyard. You can fence your dogs in instead by setting up a fenced play area. Add treats and interesting toys to keep them busy and his mind off from your container garden.
Final Words
Your container garden is a product of the time, effort, and love you invest in keeping your plants thriving and healthy. While we adore our pets as well, it can be frustrating to see all your hard work go to waste in a matter of seconds with them gnawing, nosing, and pawing your plants. So, be sure to follow the creative tips listed above to make everything going great for you, your pets, and your garden.