Is Rover digging in your favorite perennial bed? Is Tiger using the mulch as a litter box? If your family includes a dog or cat and you are a gardener then you may have run into conflicts. Don't give up. The problems are solvable for most pet lovers.

Dogs

One of the most frequently asked questions concerns brown spots in the lawn and one cause of this problem is dog urine. Dog urine contains urea, which is a fertilizer and a salt. The salt takes the moisture from the grass, which eventually kills it. The circle around the dead spot will green up as the grass takes in the nitrogen in the urine. To decrease the damage, water the area immediately to dilute the urine. A method to avoid dog spots entirely is to train your dog to use a specific area. This takes patience and time, however pet owners have reported success.

Another suggestion is to avoid dog waste in your yard and garden by fencing off the area where your dog is allowed. Be sure to create an area that incorporates all of Rover's needs by including a dog run with shade, shelter, water and a gravel path. Then ensure that he has only supervised time in the remainder of your yard.

Some pet owners have reported success by using an electric fence to keep the dog out of a specific garden area. This may work for you, but check your local ordinances first to ensure that electric fences are allowed in your neighborhood.

Is Rover wearing out a path around the perimeter of the yard? You might plant trees and shrubs well inside the fence, leaving space for the dog to roam between the fence and trees. This gives a beautiful woodsy feel to the yard and creates an ideal space for your dog to parole his space. Some homeowners even cut holes in the fence so the dog can see what is happening on the other side and is less inclined to try to jump over the fence or bark incessantly at noises.

A fence around the garden may be the best way to keep Rover out of your prized dahlias, but if your yard is too small to allow a fence, think about using container plantings. Groupings of containers can create a stunning focal point, so mass together containers and plants in a design that pleases you. Do you have a deck area or patio? A raised bed can be built on either of these areas and used successfully for growing. Again, ensure that your dog can't access the deck or create a raised bed that is too tall for your dog to enter.

Is Rover digging in the garden? Some breeds of dogs are more prone to digging then others, so research dog breeds before you add that squiggling, happy puppy to your family. If your dog has recently started digging, try to determine the reason. Does he dig only when left alone? If this seems true, then amend your dog's routine and let him out only when it's time to eliminate or for your play/exercise time with the dog. Perhaps the dog is bored or lonely when left outside and a dog-door would solve the problem. Professional dog trainers may have more information to help you with this problem.

The most important thing to remember is to never allow Rover to eliminate in the edible portion of your garden. Dog feces can contain a microorganism that could endanger your health. If all else fails, fence off the edibles so that the dog can not enter the area.

It's also important to think about protecting your dog in the garden. Items such as toxic plants and pesticides may pose a threat.  Toxic plants for Rover include narcissus (also known as daffodil or jonquil) and hyacinths. If you have these plants, keep him from digging and eating them or plant them in a container that is safely out of Rover's reach! Pesticides, fertilizers and insecticides can also be harmful. Use them according to the label directions and store them safely in a spot where they can't be reached.

Cats

To protect Tiger from using your garden as a litter box, try designing an area that is specifically for him. Remember how hard it was to keep the cat out of your child's sandbox? Well, use this to your advantage and create an area that entices the cat. Encourage him to stay in the area by having kitty grass for him. Pet stores and health food stores often sell trays of wheat grass or oat grass that is much safer than letting him chew on the lawn which may have pesticides or fertilizer.

Catnip will be a big hit. Catnip or Nepeta cataria, is a perennial plant that doesn't require much water. It grows 2-3 feet tall and has lavender or white flowers in June. A word of caution with catnip: it belongs to the mint family which means that it may spread rampantly throughout your garden! The wisest course of action may be to plant the catnip into containers that are placed in the kitty's garden.

To convince Tiger to stay out of your garden, here are some deterrents that may help. Cayenne pepper sprinkled around the plants is unpleasant to Tiger but won't harm her. Cats also hate the scent of citrus, so sprinkle citrus peels around your plants. Commercial repellants are also available at garden centers and pet stores.

Another deterrent is to use a rough-surfaced rock mulch around your plants. Most cats don't like walking on the rocks and will naturally stay away from it. Finally, motion-detector sprinklers will squirt the cat when it is in the area causing most cats to scamper away.

It's also important to protect Tiger from the plants or pesticides that can harm her. If your cat has grass to chew on, it will probably leave the other plants alone, but curiosity may lead it to take a bite or two of plants that are harmful. Plants that are toxic to cats include the castor bean plant (Ricinus communis), chrysanthemum (may cause dermatitis), clematis, daffodils, delphinium, iris (only the bulbs may cause a problem), larkspur, morning glory, rhubarb and wisteria (seeds and pods are toxic). Look for symptoms like skin rashes, difficulty breathing, convulsions, vomiting and problems swallowing. If these symptoms occur, contact your veterinarian for appropriate treatment.

Weed killers, insecticides and fertilizers can also be harmful. If you use these products, keep your pet out of the area for the reentry time listed on the label. Also be sure to store these products in a cat proof container.

If you are unsure about the effects of a plant on your dog or cat, call the ASPCA's National Animal Poison Control Center at 1-800-548-2423 for information. They have experience with pets that have ingested pesticides, drugs, and even metals. They do charge a small fee for their services but also offer a $15.00 booklet that lists many of the toxic plants.

Many gardeners have found a way to enjoy their pets and have a garden. Good luck in finding the methods that work for you.

Q:  How long can I leave my vegetables, like carrots, in the ground?

A:  As long as possible is the best answer, but it is helpful to keep in mind that October is around the bend.  Colorado has been known to have snow during the first ten days of October, so give yourself enough time to harvest your crops and to get your bed ready for winter.  Sometimes people wait until later and find that the ground is frozen.

Q:  Should I continue to remove the dried flowers on my roses?

A:  Now is a good time to stop deadheading.  Most roses have completed blooming and many varieties go through a process of making seeds that are known as rose hips.  Many birds and wildlife eat the seeds through the winter, generally this won't hurt your roses.  Rose hip jelly is also a good use of the seeds.

Q:  I have some perennials like purple coneflower that were great this year, how do you save the seeds?

A:  Collect seeds after the flower has died, as it dries up the seeds become available.  A simple way to save the seeds is to gather many flowers of one type and hang them upside down inside a paper bag.  As the flower continues to dry out the seed will fall into the bag; eventually you can remove the dead flower heads.  If you use plastic and there is any moisture left in the flower head it may begin to mold.  Make sure you label your bag because seeds can look very similar in the spring!

Bring some of your herbs indoors for the winter.  Choose the most robust plants to move.  Basil, oregano, sage and thyme are the easiest to grow indoors.  They will need 5 hours of direct sunlight a day or supplement with artificial light.  Water with tepid water and let the soil dry out between waterings.  Fertilize once a month with a diluted houseplant fertilizer.

In the market for a new wheelbarrow?  Look for heavy duty parts and a large diameter tire for better handling.    Handles should be smooth and free of splinters and bolt holes should line up so the wheelbarrow is easy to assemble.  For light loads of leaves and garden debris, a fold up model might be all you need and it won’t take up much space.

You can still plant lettuce, spinach and parsley seeds for harvest next spring.  The seeds will sprout and go dormant as the weather cools.  Cover with a spun polyester row cover or a light mulch for winter protection.   You’ll be picking lettuce and spinach from your garden early next spring.

Aerate and fertilize your lawn this fall.  Apply 1 pound of N (Nitrogen) per 1000 square feet to cool season grasses – bluegrass and turf-type tall fescue – while the grass is still green.  Warm season grasses such as buffalograss or blue grama do not require a fall fertilization.

Pick up fruit that falls from your trees.  Add it to the compost pile if it is free of disease and insects. It is also a good time to prune any suckers that have grown at the base of trees.

The authors have received training through Colorado State University Cooperative Extension's Master Gardener program and is a Master Gardener volunteer for Larimer County.

Gardening and Insect Fact Sheets are available on-line by clicking HERE.

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This page updated:  September 2,  2003