Last night I caught my neighbor’s dog in my raised bed, snout busily working through next month’s vegetables. It wasn’t the radishes that drew her but the bone meal I had side dressed around some plants. Bone meal is an organic garden amendment made of ground bones. Not surprisingly, bone meal and many other common amendments attract animals.
The neighbors let her roam when they’re nearby, and I have to admit I like that dog wandering over when I’m outside working. She nuzzles my hand sweetly and behaves well enough most of the time. I get far more irritated by dog-walkers who let their pooches use my front lawn as a potty stop and don’t scoop the chunks.
The problem is that dog is a serial escape artist. When they’re gone at work she gets out and into trouble. I’ve already tried the delicate could-you-do-your-best-to-pen-her talk. I’m not sure calling the law on the family pooch is worth disrupting delicate neighborhood relations.
For my part, I’ll find a different amendment. Some research I read recently suggests the stuff might not be all that effective for home gardens anyway.
http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~Linda%20Chalker-Scott/Horticultural%20Myths_files/Myths/Bonemeal.pdf
Love to hear about your dog problems and how you resolved them.
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