Any Gardeners out there?
In the back yard though... you can see my dilemma. Incidentially, does anyone have advise on how to try and deter Asterisk from stomping around in the flower beds? I will often times be greeted by blackened paws and a snout full of mud. Erin |
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| I have a short electric fence for the main beds that go around 2 1/2 sides of our house. I put it in years ago to keep dogs out!
I just had Todd restring the wire and get it going again to keep our chickens out.  They were digging and scratching, kicking mulch out onto the lawn. Even worse, they were shredding and destroying my tulips and other perennials coming up. grr!
If it wasn't pouring rain out at the moment, I would take a picture of the fence - it soes work great. I may have an old picture in my album - if I do I will post them. Your local Master Gardeners or county extension service should be able to help you with poisonous plants. |
| Well, not much luck!
I found one with just the corner of the house in it. You can't see the fencing, which I guess is a good thing?! 
After it stops raining, I will take a picture. The fence shows now, with fresh mulch down and just a few tulips popping up. We are MN - spring comes slow here.... |
| The poisonous plant list is pretty straight forward: http://www.cybercanine.com/toxicplants.htm
Quote: Most Poisonous
Moderately Poisonous Least Poisonous Toxic or Slightly Toxic Plants Name Parts Clinical Signs Apricot Stem, bark, seed pits Azalea (Rhododendron spp.) All parts, mostly leaves Stomach irritation, abdominal pain, abnormal heart rate and rhythm, convulsions, coma, some death. Bird of Paradise Fruit, seeds Boston Ivy All parts Caladium All parts Creeping Charlie (Glecoma hederacea L.) All parts Sweating, drooling, usually not fatal. Castor Bean (Ricinus communis) All part but mostly seeds, if chewed Nausea, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea, tenesmus, dehydration, shortness of breath, excessive thirst, weakness, muscle twitching, convulsions, coma. Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana) Leaves, seed pits, stems, bark Daffodil (Narcissus spp.) Bulbs Daphne Berries, bark, leaves English Ivy (Hedera helix L.) Leaves, berries Stomach irritation, diarrhea, troubled breathing, coma, death. Foxglove (Digitalis purpurea L.) Leaves, seeds, flowers Glacier Ivy Leaves, berries Heartleaf All parts Hemlock, Water (Cicuta maculata L.) All parts, root and root stalk Dilated pupils, frothing at the mouth, spasms muscles spasms, restlessness, convulsions, and death (within 15 min to 2 hours) Hyacinth (Hyacinth orientalis) Bulbs, leaves, flowers Colic, vomiting and diarrhea, usually not fatal. Hydrangea (Hydrangea spp.) Leaves, buds Irritation and inflammation of the digestive tract, diarrhea, bloody stool. Jerusalem Cherry (Solanum pseudocapsicum L.) All parts, unripe fruit Johnsongrass (Sorghum halepense) Leaves and stems, especially young plants. Breathing problems, severe anxiety, convulsions, coma, death. Intravenous antidote exsist. Jimson Weed (Datura stramonium L.) All parts Rapid pulse, rapid breathing, dilated pupils, restlessness, nervousness, twitching, frequent urination, diarrhea, depression, weight loss, weak pulse, convulsions, coma, death. Jonquil Bulbs Lantana (Lantana camara L.) Leaves and berries Sluggishness, weakness, bloody diarrhea. In severe cases, death may occur in 2 to 4 days. Lily-of-the-Valley (Convallaria majalis) All parts Mandrake Roots, foliage, unripe fruit Mistletoe Berries Morning Glory Seeds Marble Queen All parts Nightshade (Solanum spp.) All parts Hallucinations, severe intestinal disturbances, diarrhea, drowsiness, numbness, dilated pupils, trembling, labored breathing, nasal discharge, rapid heartbeat, weak pulse, incoordination, paralysis or severe shaking of the rear legs, rapid heart rate, bloat, can be fatal. Nephthytis, Arrowhead Vine All parts Oats, (Avena sativa) All parts Breathing difficulty, skin irritation, paralysis, convulsions, death (rare). Pigweed, Redroot (Amaranthus retroflexus) Leaves, stems, roots. Troubled breathing, trembling, weakness, coma, death. Poinsettia (Euphorbia pulcherrima) Leaves, flowers Not lethal, but can cause skin, mouth, eye, and stomach irritation. Pokeweed, Inkberry All parts Colic, diarrhea, blood in stool, rare cases anemia, and possible death. Parlor Ivy All parts Red Sage Green berries Rhubarb (Rheum rhaponticum) Leaves Staggering, trembling, breathing difficulties, weakness, diarrhea, increased drinking and urinating, death. Red Princess All parts Saddleleaf All parts Tulip (Tulipa spp.) Bulbs Umbrella Plant All parts Yew, English (Taxus baccata) and Japanese (Taxus cuspidata Sieb. & Zucc.) n/a Breathing problems, trembling, weakness, heart problems, stomach upset, very sudden death. As for keep the precious little one out of the flower garden, rotsa ruck!! Fence, tall fence, with blocker ties at the bottom will slow down a determined pup. Electric fence is more effective (I've told the story of the Newfoundland who got around the electric fence by digging and grabbing the posts hold the wires and setting them down on the ground). Container gardens aren't an option, they just jump into the barrel and dig away. In time they learn the garden is not for them, but it takes several years. So in mean time......don't expect a beautiful flower garden. I've also shared having my 100 rose bush garden dug up by Pyrs who disliked having the rose bushes get caught on their tails. |
Here are the pictures. The fencing really shows now, as there is virtually nothing growing....yet!
Since it's back up and running - nobody has been in the flower beds. No dogs, no cat, not even the chickens!  |
| But it looks sooo comfortable. What a nice doggie nap spot! |
SheepieBoss wrote: But it looks sooo comfortable. What a nice doggie nap spot!
Don't even think that!  |
| What a neat idea. I had heard of stringing an electric type fence along the perimeter of a bed, but I had thought it seemed a bit odd. At least I know that it would work!
Another major problem I have living in the Midwest is the amount of wild life climbing into my yard. I have HUGE, fat ground hogs, raccoons, moles and rabbits. Occasionally, I've seen a stray cat pop into my yard, those I don't mind as much. Maybe if I string the electric fencing along the back of the wooden fence that would eliminate the wild life popping in? Erin |
| Erin, it might take several wires at various heights, lower for the ground varmits and something pretty high for leapin' deer. Do you already have a fence around the perimeter?
Another problem with a hot wire is your neighbors........the fence has to be adequately posted so they know it's there least they brush up against it. Realize they come in various strengths......a lighter shock for smaller animals and then the big livestock shock that is........memorable. |
| On poisonous plants...please remember that cocoa mulch is also dangerous to animals, and can be fatal. You might want to try the recycled rubber mulch. And then there are the chickens. They belong to our neighbor but spend the day in our yard, digging holes for dust baths and making a general mess of the new flower beds. I don't want to put a decorative fence around the beds, and am hesitant to use the electric fence. I had one around the fish pond, accidentally backed into the fence, got a nice little shock and fell backwards into the pond. I don't know who was more surprised...me or the fish! So my current idea is to use 1/2 inch Hardware cloth, over the weed barrier but under the rubber mulch. Hardware cloth is more expensive than chicken wire but since the holes are 1/2", there is no danger of the chickens being caught in the wire. It's rather slow going but I hope it will work. Be careful when cutting the Hardware Cloth! |
| Hardware cloth is a great dog digging deterrent and sometimes for cats. Dogs dig because they want to sculpt a nice nest, cats because the want to poop. If the mulch is deep enough, it is deep enough for the cat. Go for it, hopefully it will work. Remember though, if your plants grow in girth.......the bunch gets bigger, the cloth must not interfere with the plant. Also try various stinky herbs mixed about the garden..........lemon verbena for example may keep animals away. Don't plant catmint or catnip........LOL! |
* Capt. Obvious Danger wrote: I have HUGE, fat ground hogs, raccoons, moles and rabbits. Sounds like you need an Airedale!  |
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