Suggestions on Vegetable Fertilizer that won't attract our dog

13 years ago

We're new to vegetable gardening and have just built out a few 4x8 raised beds along with a few containers for tomatoes. Well... the problem is - we've got two beagles that are very interested in digging up the soil every time we fertilize. We've used fish emulsion as well as standard tomato fertilizer from HD... and the dogs went nuts digging after each application.

Any suggestions on a fertilizer that won't give off an odor that will attract our dog?

Thanks in advance...

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Comments (5)

hellbound
13 years ago
try jobes tomato stakes
lazy_gardens
13 years ago
Stop using the fish emulsion and use any pelleted fertilizer meant for vegetables.
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For those looking for someone who actually used this method. . . here I am. . .an experienced, organic gardener. We moved in 2014, and it rained on our last load of "outside" stuff. Some of that stuff was 50 lbs. of cat food and about 20 lbs. of goat pellets (alfalfa). Instead of counting it a loss, I placed the damp, stinky gunk in a newly formed "lasagna" garden (layered compost), and covered it with cardboard followed by a thick layer of mulch. Although we live in a forested area, there were no squirrels, voles, moles or other beasties (including our dog) bothering the area. It was kept moist through the winter. In the spring, this kitchen garden produced all the vegetables two people required for five months with some for winter preserving. It was the most productive area I've ever grown---in decades. In fact, it out-performed the entire yard . . .even though I implemented good practice and "beyond organic" principles in the additional gardens. Will I do it again? I'm thinking about it for a front yard area that is heavy clay, formerly herbicide/insectide-sprayed, Bermuda grass-infested corner. And yes, the soil's life knocks down toxins in the cat food, just as it does naturally with manures placed in the garden. Live a little. . .use what you have. . .garden with joy and support each other!!! Eating your own local foods HAS to be better than anything you purchase at the store. May the "high of harvest" outweigh the downer of self-righteous gardeners!
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Well, hard to say at this point, because not sure how much food crop I'll put in. But adding the area of the new patio flower garden being put in this year, let's say conservatively over 800 sq ft. I imagine I will simply put manure down in some areas, but will want to give extra attention to others. Sorry I can't be more precise. I was just hopeful that someone on this website would have dealt with this issue of multiple cats and gardening together. Unfortunately, when I am outside, the ferals find everything I do fascinating. (rueful grin) I can deal with some "helpful attention": mole digging, chasing those pesky butterflies, additions of their own brand of fertilizer, chasing one another away from me at high speed - "is he bothering you? I'll take care of it!", or simply laying around keeping me company - which usually is directly in front of me where I am working. Sigh.
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hellbound
13 years ago
i also hear the dynamite pelets work great too
tracydr
13 years ago
I have the same problem with my doberman and especially the pspillon. I want to use my free horse manure and the pap puppy keeps dragging it in the house. I can imagine beagles are awful with their great noses! We hunt jackrabbits on horseback with a beagle pack (like traditional foxhunting) here in Phoenix. Awesome little dogs. We also have a hound pack in Flagstaff and visit a harrier pack in CA.
Anyway, I've only found fencing, especially a low electric fence to be effective. My doberman I was able to use a shock collar on a low setting. I only did it once but she's very, very sensitive. I haven't done it with the papillon, mainly because the collar is too heavy but also because she's much harder head than the Doberman so that I think she would simply learn not to pick up horse poop when the collate is on. The Doberman learned "mommy doesn't like me to pick up horse poop and made my neck buzz" which would be the more desirable response.
My experience with hunting dogs is they have tunnel vision so if the collar is not on it's not going to work. The Doberman and some other working breeds are much different than hunting/hound breeds. Less tunnel vision and prey focus, more please my mommy focus. I haven't had my papillon puppy long enough to figure her out, she seems more along the lines of a border collie or spaniel, highly OCD and focused, off the charts smart but pretty independent as well.
Anyway, with beagles, your best option would be a 4-6 inch high electric fence which you can make using 1/2 inch PVC pipe for your pole, drill holes to run wire through, no worries about needing insulator for this. Add two long pieces of rebar pounded into the grounded 3-4 feet deep, 3-4 feet apart. These are your grounds. For your charges, if you have acess to electricity you can use a cheap 110 charger. If not, I would highly recommend a solar charger which works fantastically.
Make sure your grounds are kept damp as dry ground won't do as well. I water the ground poles every week if it doesn't rain.
This type of system is very effective and not ugly system
jiml85254
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks all for the follow-up and suggestions... I had tried the fish emulsion liquid as well as Kellogg's "Natural and Organic Tomato, Vegetable, and Herb" granules - and both got the dogs digging...

Well... I purchased the Jobe's "Tomato Outdoor Fertilizer Food Spikes" from Amazon... and whala... no digging from the Beagles... they're not even interested in sniffing around the tomato plants.

Thanks so much for the suggestion on the Jobes tomato spikes... I think they're going to work out great.

Suggestions on Vegetable Fertilizer that won't attract our dog

Comments (5)

hellbound

lazy_gardens

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Suggestions on Vegetable Fertilizer that won't attract our dog

Comments (5)

hellbound

lazy_gardens

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hellbound

tracydr

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