Expert: C.L. Fornari - 10/12/2005

Question
My last two rounds of annuals (zinnias, then mums) took off beautifully and then, a few weeks after I plant them, the flowers start to look ashen and then the plants start to die.  When I pull them out of the ground, there is no root system.  I think my dog is peeing in the flower bed and that this is what is killing them.  Short of getting rid of the dog, is there anything you can recommend to solve this?  Any flowers that wouldn't be so vulnerable to this problem?

Answer
Lynn,
Dog urine is high in nitrogen and salts, so it burns the roots of plants.  Most flowers would be affected.  I would try to change the dog's habit of peeing there - dogs, like most animals, are creatures of habit, so they tend to go to the same area most of the time.  

You might try sprinkling "Critter Ridder" around the area and see if this keeps the dog away - it is organic, harmless to the dog, and made by the Hav-a-heart company.  There is also a product called "ScareCrow" that attaches to a hose - it has a motion dectector and when an animal gets near by it sends a fast burst of water into the area to startle the animal.

The other solution is to put your annuals in pots along the same area, so that they are raised up a bit - that too might get the dog to go elsewhere.  Pet stores sell products that neutralize the dog urine so that the dog is less likely to return to the same spot to pee...that might help as well.

Be sure that the area isn't kept too wet or dry - both would cause roots to disappear and the plants to fail.

I hope this helps!
C.L.