skip to main content

Help, my sunflowers are being eaten by.......

17 years ago

My Dog!

He grazes on them as if they were grass. Anyone know why? So far he's killed two by eating all the leaves and stalks. Last year the sunflowers were in a front bed so he didn't have the opportunity to eat them, this year they are in the back. Can I only have them in the front or with chickenwire around them? That would be oh so attractive. :) Oh, and the other dog is leaving them alone.

Syreeta

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (4)

sierra_z2b
17 years ago
Take your dog to dog obedience classes. Teach the "NO" command and teach boundries.......then spend several 20 minutes training sessions with your dog everyday. Evenually your dogs will clue in that your garden is out of bounds for them.

The other solution is to tie them out, so they don't have free run of your yard and garden. Or build a dog run for them.

Sierra
northspruce
17 years ago
Last year my dogs were running through my gardens and wrecking them, and grazing on things too. Like Sierra said, I was able to teach them to stay out with boundaries. It helped, especially with the puppy, to put up some of that cheap metal folding fence from HD (I got a semi-fancy bronze looking one). It would never keep them out, they can go right over, but it reminds them visually. I have a lot of different flower beds and they would forget even when they were trying to be good.
Related Discussions
My garden junk is being eaten alive by flowers!
Q
Comments (11)
Well, be grateful that they look so good. ( I know you are and your pot bellied stove looks FANTASTIC!) My garden junk trellis'(umbrella trellis) passion flower vine DID get eaten ALIVE! Early in the season I was going to plant another morning glory like the previous year but couldn't find one at the garden center. SOOOO, I planted this passion flower vine that a friend of the family had given me. About a month ago I discovered all these caterpillars on it and researched them out. They were gulf frittilaries caterpillar so I left them alone. Those chrysalized and out came a gazillion of the gulf fritilaries that contined on with the process. Well, this last brood DEVOURED the entire vine! What's left of my starving caterpillars are eating the top portion of the outer part of the stems! It's a catch 22 for me. So, if you plant it they will come! BUT, they also will strip bare! I feel like that plant got the biblical locust treatment! Anyway-with all that we have seriously enjoyed viewing their different states of transormation! Enjoy your hidden pot bellied stove. It will come out of hiding soon enough. :-) Love, Jules
...See More
sunflowers heads are being eaten
Q
Comments (2)
Moose can easily reach 8 feet and eat your sunflower heads.
...See More
Help - Captain Kirk is being eaten alive!
Q
Comments (11)
Thanks Steve (and Babka). I'm going to keep an eye out for grasshoppers. I have seen two small ones which I eliminated but they were close to the house and that was last week. The damage has been going on for weeks. I was out with a flash light last night but saw nothing. I guess I will just have to check regularly at different times of the day and see if I can't spoit the culprit.
...See More
My strawberry plants are being eaten by something..what can I do?
Q
Comments (4)
Here is a link to many photos of the so-called "jewel" beetle family, the iridescents. You should be able to ID from the pics. https://www.google.com/search?q=iridescent+beetles&sa=X&espv=2&biw=1637&bih=925&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&ved=0CB0QsARqFQoTCIW58ZfA2MYCFQmAkgodX20GfQ But if you found only one then it is highly unlikely you have or will have any infestation. And what did the damage may even have already moved on. But it would be difficult for one beetle to do much damage unless we are talking about only a handful of plants? If you feel you have to treat the plants then DE (diatemaceous earth) is relatively safe to use. Dave
...See More
SeaOtterCove
Original Author
17 years ago
The sunflowers are Teddy Bear ones that are in pots on the deck. He is grazing on them when he walks by. They do know to stay out of the flowerbeds. I just don't understand why he would eat them? Obviously they aren't poisonous or he would of shown signs by now.

Syreeta
northspruce
17 years ago
Oh well I guess it's natural for dogs to like to eat plants sometimes. At least they're not poisonous but that sucks that they are getting eaten! :Maybe if you spray something on them to make them taste gross? I think there's non-poisonous dog repellant sprays you can buy.

Related Stories

GARDENING AND LANDSCAPING Be a Citizen Scientist to Help Wildlife, Learn and Have Fun Too

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Track butterflies, study birds, capture stars ... when you aid monitoring efforts, you’re lending Mother Nature a hand

MOST POPULAR Summer Crops: How to Grow Sunflowers

By Marianne Lipanovich

Savor snack-tastic sunflower seeds once the radiant blooms have faded — if the birds have saved you any, that is

GARDENING FOR BUTTERFLIES Be a Butterfly Savior — Garden for the Monarchs

By Benjamin Vogt / Monarch Gardens

Keep hope, beauty and kindness alive in the landscape by providing a refuge for these threatened enchanters

GARDENING GUIDES 9 Ways to Be Water-Wise in the Edible Garden

By Annie Thornton

Consider these tips to get a healthy backyard crop that uses less water

LANDSCAPE DESIGN Native Plants Help You Find Your Garden Style

By Oakley Gardens

Imagine the garden of your dreams designed with plants indigenous to your region

COFFEE WITH AN ARCHITECT 10 Tips to Help You Put Off Procrastinating

By Jody Brown Architecture, pllc

Blank page staring at you? Look it in the eye, then vanquish it in 10 only slightly meandering steps

COLOR Paint-Picking Help and Secrets From a Color Expert

By Tiffany Carboni

Advice for wall and trim colors, what to always do before committing and the one paint feature you should completely ignore

UNIVERSAL DESIGN My Houzz: Universal Design Helps an 8-Year-Old Feel at Home

By Becki Peckham

An innovative sensory room, wide doors and hallways, and other thoughtful design moves make this Canadian home work for the whole family

MOST POPULAR 7 Ways to Design Your Kitchen to Help You Lose Weight

By Mitchell Parker

In his new book, Slim by Design, eating-behavior expert Brian Wansink shows us how to get our kitchens working better

PETS 6 Ways to Help Your Dog and Landscape Play Nicely Together

By Marianne Lipanovich

Keep your prized plantings intact and your dog happy too, with this wisdom from an expert gardener and dog guardian

Sponsored

More Discussions

Homeowner maintenance advice for a modern house?

3

Let's talk about the Weather in the colder zones-2-3-4.

66