Hi....I'm also carrying in cinderblock and turning over my LONG neglected garden by hand..it is pretty large! As someone
who sometimes works really hard towards one goal, and misses the overall picture, can I respectfully suggest a fence. Perhaps you would think it ugly, but it will prevent the dog from ruining your garden, and if you plant flowers and vines along it, it could be one of the highlights of your gardening experience. It could be relatively simple...just steel posts (get a post driver...the store will show you how it works) and net fence, and be a happy gardener.

I don't know how big your dog is, mine are 20 pounders, and I put up some scalloped wire edging around the veggie beds. It is 2 ft tall, $3 for a ten ft length. It keeps them from tromping through the garden area on their way to someplace else. However, they don't especially WANT to get into the space. Being dark green doesn't show from a distance so it looks okay in the landscape.
You may have to resort to the shock collar. I've never used it, but there have been times I wish I had one when they won't listen to me.

Keep us posted on what you find that works.

I second the fence. I recently put in some raised beds, and didn't want the cats to think they were some fancy litter box! lol So, we put some posts in the ground around the boxes with wire, put a gate so I could get in, and think this will solve the problem.

I love the idea falconfling had of putting flowers/vines around it. I'm going to put brick around the boxes so I can easily mow around the boxes, and falconfling's idea will take care of the fence line. :)

I would have preferred to just have the boxes out there, with no fence around it. But when you have animals, we have to make concessions. And I'd rather have a fence than a shock collar.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do. I know the thought of more work is probably not too enticing after all you've already done.

When we started doing our beds we thought we would put fencing around, but the dog stays out of them, for some reason. She only likes to jump in before we fill them with dirt.

We made trellises out of cedar branches and stuck them into the holes of the blocks then filled with gravel. That way we can remove them when they rot. Initially I was going to do a whole short fence of those to keep the dog out.

You could just use a post of some kind and attach farmer's fencing or chicken wire. They sell it in green now so it blends in a little better. Then you can use it to grow pole beans and such.

For tomatoes I just use a 'tube' of farmer's fencing. I don't make a complete circle. I leave a gap of about 4 inches which helps to really get in there if I need to. I secure them to the ground with landscape fabric pins. You could make them from wire coat hangers as well.

thanks all!
So far so good with the coated wire pined to the surface. I would really like to return the sock-er fence.

I like the idea of putting posts into the openings of the cinder blocks. I was thinking today that if I used a reatively strong wire it could double as a trellis on the back and fence all around. Honestly, I would prefer to just use some stakes for the maters and foil the dogs.

smiles
c