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Neighbors
And Their Pets -
Considering
your two legged friends' four legged friends
Even if you
don't have pets you need to keep in mind that the neighborhood cats,
dogs, rabbits, and other sundry critters may get into your garden.
Digging in the dirt, eating leaves and veggies, and taking naps
in a warm sunny window box are favorite pastimes for many pets.
And can you blame them? Just imagine how frustrating it must be
for them to not be able to design their own gardens.
So the least
you can do is share the joy of your garden with the neighborhood
pets. But if the phrase "neighborhood pets" conjures up
deep feelings of frustration and flashbacks of many late nights
listening to that dog that just won't shut up. you need to make
sure your container garden is protected from Rover's romp. Otherwise,
sleep deprived rage upon finding an overturned flowerpot could seriously
threaten neighbor relations, not to mention endangering poor Rover's
health.
Here are a few
ideas for keeping you and the animals happy:
- Plant enough
to share.
- Don't put
catnip or other pet attracting plants right next to any fragile
plant or container.
- Put containers
out of reach of pets, either on sturdy raised pedestals or in
hanging baskets.
- Avoid plants
that are poisonous to animals.
- Insert wire
or plastic fences around pots.
If you take
these precautions, and still find that your neighbor's pet is making
your life miserable - talk to your neighbor. Keep a level head and
try to find a mutually agreeable plan for protecting your garden.
Figure out what it is that's so appealing to the pets and find other
ways to fill that void in their lives. Maybe your neighbor will
want to make a container garden, too, just for them.
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