Covering My SFG

arj059 on 11/7/2013, 4:18 pm

My SFG boxes are cleaned out and ready for the snow to fly. One problem, neighboring dogs and cats like to dig and leave their mess in the boxes. Any suggestions on how to cover the boxes to prevent this from happening? I saw in the SFG book the suggestion to build a wire dome, but just want to know if there are any other ideas.

**donnainzone5** on 11/7/2013, 4:26 pm

If and when the ground freezes solid, the critters shouldn't be able to dig into it. In the meantime, you might want to insert, tines upright, plastic forks, five per square foot.

**camprn** on 11/7/2013, 4:28 pm

or maybe just lay some planks across the bed.

**llama momma** on 11/7/2013, 5:00 pm

I use inexpensive tarps from a disount place like Odd Lots/Big Lots. Big enough to cover the beds and down the sides and more to lay flat on the grass. Put bricks here and there and its good through the snow, rain, wind. One of my barn cats still lays on top of it to sun herself. That's better than using it as a big ol litter box. The box with the garlic will have a critter cage as described in the book and filled with leaves to help insulate the garlic that has already sprouted, plus it keeps out critters.

bnoles on 11/7/2013, 6:21 pm

I lay a piece of scrap chicken wire over the top of the bed and it works well. It does not even need to cover the soil perfectly as animals don't like to walk across it and will not go near the beds.

**Kelejan** on 11/7/2013, 7:13 pm

@bnoles wrote:I lay a piece of scrap chicken wire over the top of the bed and it works well. It does not even need to cover the soil perfectly as animals don't like to walk across it and will not go near the beds.

I do the same. Works great.

Dunkinjean on 11/7/2013, 9:47 pm

I have been covering my cleaned boxes with Weed Block and hold it down with bricks or whatever will hold it down.
It has worked well the past 3yrs - it's reasonably priced and protects the soil from critters and any outside leaves, branches, etc.

mschaef on 11/11/2013, 10:39 pm

I have used a moving blanket that is old and ratty...but I like the ideas here maybe I will retire the blanket and use the tarp I have for mixing mel mix on... thinking

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