Ask the Gardener: Rabbit problem, discouraging dogs, geraniums and more

Gardening editor Doug Oster gets asked a lot of questions. A lot. And he doesn’t mind offering gardening advice. But rather than just limiting those answers to the person who asked, we thought it might be a good idea to share that wealth of knowledge with everybody.

There are three ways to send in your questions:

Email askdoug@535mediallc.com
Submit your question on our “Your Garden” section of our site
Send us a message on Facebook.

(The questions may be lightly edited for grammar/clarity/etc.)

bunny

Question 1: Rabbit problem

Debbie: Please help! I made my entire backyard a perennial garden, and the bunnies love it! They eat everything, what can I do short of having rabbit stew for dinner?

Doug: Get some Hot Pepper Wax, it will stop them from nibbling. You can get it here.

Question 2: Discouraging dogs

Mark: Is there a product I can put down/spray that will discourage dogs from peeing in my garden? Once the first one goes there, the rest must follow suit, which inevitably will kill my perennials. Alternatively, is there a plant that can tolerate dogs and grow in part sun? I currently have hostas in one area and sedum ground cover in the other where this may occur.

Doug: The hosta and sedum are good choices as tough plants, but both like different growing conditions. The hostas would prefer shade, and the sedum need sun. If it’s a sunny place, something like daylilies, portulaca or salvia would work.

Since dogs have an amazing sense of smell I know gardeners who soak balls of cotton in ammonia or vinegar and put them in the area. You have to be careful though, because both of those things will kill plants. I’ve heard chili pepper works, too. It’s usually one of the main ingredients in commercial repellents. Take a walk through your local pet store and see what you can find there, too.

Anytime you see dogs using the area, get out there with a hose and soak the area — it will dilute the urine and keep the plants safe. Also think if there’s a way to use a physical barrier in that space that would look good, but discourage the dogs.

Question 3: Trailing geranium

Joanne: An older relative wants a trailing geranium for a birthday gift? Is there such a plant and are they
available at any local shop.

Doug: Trailing geraniums are a plant and should be able to be found at a good local nursery, especially one that specializes in hanging baskets and annuals.

dogwood

Question 4: Dogwood

Lenora: My dogwood looks very poor this spring. It tried to bloom but was halted, and the leaves look terrible. Any advice? It’s probably 15 years old. Everyone in my area (Fayette County) had beautiful, full, long-lasting blooms all around me this year. It’s typically a light salmon color petal. The leave are tightly squished together as if they don’t want to open. It had a few blooms but not many.

Doug: It doesn’t look too bad, just a little tired. I would get a bag of Hollytone and feed it twice this season and then again in the spring. That will bring it back to its former glory.