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Sorry it's sideways. Didn't know how to turn it.
Thanks in advance. I admit I don't even know my own mind on this....so I'm asking the garden community here. Photo: there's a pot in each corner, and the taller urn one in the center. The mulch was what we did to get rid of the yard when elderly mom lived there. Pavers to make it "look nicer."
I don't want to spend a LOT of money -- say under $120.
Issues:
-- animals (neighborhood squirrels/cats/skunks/opossums, dog) poop in the mulch -- AND the pots!
I've thought about blanketing the entire area with critter repellent. But I'd just have to keep spending that money.
1) Is there a plant (other than one with thorns) that NO animal likes to go near?
Ideas?
-- I prefer perennials. And I usually DO have plants in those pots. Just haven't since COVID.
-- I've always wanted peonies. Had them at another house. But they get too tall, I'd have to stake, pot would blow over in the wind, etc. Love the flower and look. Don't want the extra work. -- OR since they wouldn't be in the ground would you still do the peonies and just let them flop down over the side of the pot, so they'd look like a mounding habit? The blooms wouldn't be on the ground.
In other beds or pots, I already have seed autumn job, day lilies, hyacynths, irises,
And I've had salvia, pinks, turtlehead choline, blanket flower, balloon flower, bee balm, butterfly weed, gaura, crocosmia, angelonia, billy buttons, and more I can't recall.
Wanted something different -- and thought I'd finally go for the peonies?
(Or get something cheap, more of the same (daylily or salvia, whatever, slap it in there, and call it a day?)
Like I said, I don't even know what I want to do.....well, I DO want animals to stop pooping in the mulch and pots. Flowers will help that right? I don't think they pooped in the pots with the flowers in them.
-- I've always wanted peonies. Had them at another house. But they get too tall, I'd have to stake, pot would blow over in the wind, etc. Love the flower and look. Don't want the extra work. -- OR since they wouldn't be in the ground would you still do the peonies and just let them flop down over the side of the pot, so they'd look like a mounding habit? The blooms wouldn't be on the ground.
I like the pavers and the border stones, it looks good. Re: peonies in the containers, you could try dwarf or miniature peony plants, or sturdy upright peonies that don't require staking.
You don’t say where you live, but how about dahlias? In cooler climates you would need to remove the bulbs and store them for the winter., but you’d get nice big colorful flowers.
Thanks for the Dahlia idea. But won't squirrels dig them up/eat them. Also anything I plant stays planted so I wouldn't dig them up to save them. I'm not planting 20 bulbs only to have 3-4 survive.
I've done some research/looking on the peonies. One question I've had is will I be able to find the shorter ones at the nursery where I shop.....it's a pretty big place. Wonder if I could order what I want. Big box home center garden departs sometimes don't have ANY peonies.
I have squirrels, skunks, cats, and other varmints in the area.
The main goals are:
-- stop them from pooping or coming into MY yard that's why I wondered about plants they'll naturally stay away from.
-- and what to put in the pots. I'll look into the mint family.
I'm not going back to plants in the ground, because the mulch is easier to just top off and keep weeds at bay.
I have the pots and I'm sticking with the containers. I find them easier to manage.
Are there any flowering plants that most animals hate to go near?
I disagree that pots are easier to manage. The watering routine would be one HUGE reason I would have plants in the ground - if it were an either/or decision. Once you eliminate weeds in your garden, keeping a mulched bed weed free is literally a once or twice a month spray. Watering the planters is far more maintenance. Obviously your choice, but weeds also get in the planters - if you think they don't, you have not had many plants in pots. I have a ton of them on my front porch, and weed seeds are everywhere.
You could put in a little fence. I have used both, I think, an 18” high plastic picket fence and a metal decorative fence for a large flower box, and for my raised bed vegetable garden. Both have helped keep animals out. Check a garden center or big box like Home Depot/Lowes, or Target/Walmart. Probably also options online like Amazon. Some get a little pricey but I think it would be in your budget.
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Photo: there's a pot in each corner, and the taller urn one in the center. The mulch was what we did to get rid of the yard when elderly mom lived there. Pavers to make it "look nicer."
Re: peonies in the containers, you could try dwarf or miniature peony plants, or sturdy upright peonies that don't require staking.
