General Chat

Now that spring is in the air, I've potted Rhododendrons and Azaleas. They were doing great but the MUTT now won't stop digging in the pots. I've tried get off spray, pepper dust, yelling (and cursing!) all to no avail. What'm I gonna do?................. UPDATE: I now feel like Androcles! The holly has had the desired effect - at least it sounded like it! Poor fella - I don't want to hurt him and despite his name, he's NOT the sharpest knife in the drawer, but I think he's got the point??!!

Put an electric fence around them?

Put some support frame over them , will stop him getting on the pots. and they will need surpporting anyway as they grow Shirley

one of those water bottle sprays should do the trick.. a quick squirt from that everytime he goes near the pots and he should get the message.... well it works on my cats... so ...lol

I bought a couple of those coned type blackwired frames for my pots because a cat used to sleep on my lilies as they struggled to grow. that provided the support they needed anyway and blocked completely any access to the growing plants plus they look good too Shirley

Just in case peeps think I am a real monster suggesting an electric fence, a neighbour had one a couple of feet or so off the ground to keep the sheep in a paddock. Her dog walked under it and his tail touched the fence. He jumped and looked round in surprise to see what had bitten him. One puzzled dog, but unhurt. I grabbed an electric fence once to help myself sit down on the ground. It 'bit' me but didnt really hurt me.

Hi everyone - sorry for not getting back. School run, spot of housekeeping - all the good stuff you can't wait for each day! I tried the water trick - he likes it! Thinks it's great fun! I had the cone thingy - he dragged it round the garden! Can't really go the electric fence route - so I'm stuck unless there's a white witch out there who can come up with a potion to make him keep his nose out! A frien of mine told me to rub mustard round the pot and he licked it all away! He's not normal!

Have you tried covering the soild round the plants with slate chippings, reasonably large ones that he would not be able to dig. make it quite thick. Not fine gravel as hhe could still dig that. Ann Glos

If your using any type of slate stuff, etc, for your pots, make sure its not that cocoa husk stuff as its poionous to dogs. I have the same sort of problem with my mutt, only he is just eating my bushes in my boarders and digging big holes on my lawn... arrrggggg I dont know what to do either, thing is you cant be outside with them all the time when we have things to be getting on woth indoors!!! Clare x

slateis not coco husk, slate is stone! Ann glos

Can you get hold of some holly and place pieces in the pots - works for squirrels! If mustard was not hot enough what about chilli paste?

U lot are brilliant! I myself am addicted to all things chilli so have abundant supply. Also have holly growing all around - never thought of that! Is he in for a sharp surprise! Thanks a lot for the info guys and dolls! I don't think Einstein will be too pleased though! (That's the mutt, by the way!) Will let u all know how I get on!

thanks everyone.