Pests - Dogs
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  (March) We live on 40 acres west of Little Rock. A stray beagle showed up in the fall and we adopted her. She lives outside and has a dog house but only stays in it when it is cold. She loves to sleep in my flower bed! This hasn't been much of a problem this winter but since I will be planting soon and my perennials will be coming out I need some help. What can I put in the flower bed that will deter her from sleeping there. It isn't possible to fence it off because of where it is. Is there anything that dogs don't like the smell of? I had considered moth balls but don't want to do anything that would be toxic.

  When it comes to animal control, you have to try a variety of approaches. I would not recommend moth balls. You may want to try to develop an area for the dog somewhere other than this flower bed -- they like to lay on cold soil. Try laying chicken wire or some type of mesh where the dog lays now. You can also try putting in little wooden spikes in the garden -- cut some branches off of a tree and put them in the garden -- the natural color won't take away from the overall appearance of the garden, but it should deter the dog. Good luck.

  (August) Every time we get a hibiscus plant, our terriers break it off to the ground. They do not eat it , they just destroy it. Even with cayenne pepper, or GO AWAY, or anything on it. And even a week later, they will go back again looking for the roots. Have you ever heard of such a thing.

  No, I have never heard of an affinity for hibiscus with dogs, but it seems once an animal finds a plant they like, they keep going back to that spot or plant. The best method to control it would be some way of barricading or blocking their way to the plant. You may try putting chicken wire temporarily around it or some other fencing. Once they learn they can't get to it, hopefully they will go somewhere else and lose interest in the hibiscus. In time, you should be able to remove the barrier, and hope for the best.

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