Are there any plants that will deter dogs from entering the garden?

watercolourheart: Are there any plants that will deter dogs from entering the garden?
I am trying to set up a cottage garden across the back fence. All the seedlings get trampled on and broken by our young dogs as they run and play. The yard is huge and they are only small dogs, so there is plenty of room for them to play elsewhere. Its so frustrating to spend so much money, time, and effort to plant a nice garden only to have it trampled on and torn apart. Yes, I know I could put up fence, but I will have to save enough money for this. Meanwhile, I am working on training them to stay out. During this training and until I get a fence, are there any plants that will deter them from entering the garden? — e.g., things dogs don’t like the smell of, I don’t want to go with cactus or spikey plants that would injure. The “get off my garden” sprays, etc. don’t work and I cannot afford to keep on trying the various brands. Thanks for your help.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Don R
There are no plants that will keep dogs away. Puppies will just romp and play everywhere until 2 or 3 years old. If you can afford it maybe some kind of “invisible ” fence system will dissuade them. It will probably keep them in the yard rather than running into the neighbors yard as well.

Answer by Gerry
DOG-B-GONE TONIC
to keep dogs away from your yard, liberally apply this spicy tonic to your soil.
2 cloves of garlic
2 small onions
1 jalapeno pepper
1 tbsp. of cayenne pepper
1 tbsp of Tabasco Sauce
1 tbsp of chili powder
1 tbsp of liquid dish soap
1qt. of warm water
chop the garlic,onions,and pepper fine, and then mix with the rest of the ingredients. Let the mixture “marinate” for 24 hours,
strain it through cheesecloth, then sprinkle it on any area where dogs are a problem. If your on the howl prowl , the hole diggers will go elsewhere!

Answer by Beth
I don’t know if this will work on dogs, but I know we have a problem with squirrels digging up bulbs. I solved it by mixing black pepper in the top soil! A few “snoot fulls” and the squirrels went elsewhere!

Answer by godged
Until your plants get established, you may want to surround them with something. You could buy the small tomato cages. Or make some inexpensive ones with hardware cloth, chicken wire, bendable metal wire to hold the edges together and some large metal U shaped staples to attach them to the ground. Even 2 liter bottles with the necks cut off would help until your plants get going. It won’t be pretty, but your dogs may learn to change their route.