Dog-proofing some city park chinquapins at minimal cost?

Other than a big-ass fence, any genius ideas? how does Sepp Holzer keep from having somebodies urinate on his trees too much? by having enough trees that they have endless options to choose from, I suppose. But in the city, we don't like trees. We tolerate a few and then we want big open spaces wiht GRASS in them. So that the poor hound, searhing everywhere for a place to mark, has only a limited buffet of options, and the large number of dogs leads to burning of roots of many a tree that's not super hardy and capapble of producing no food whatsoever. Like those ornamental pears.

SO--mulch it really high so that any nitrogen that filters down will be a bit diluted? install a pond around it? a moat? with crocodiles? that pee moderately? have an ear-splitting shriek at frequenceis only a dog can hear repel them? will Sepp Holzer bone salve deter the use of the chinquapin as a public bathroom by four-footeds, or only work with deer? we want squirrels and other little folks to go on contributing nitrogen in smal quantities, but just not to the extent of burning roots. Rocks? I think we're going to basically do a lot of stones on top of the mulch anyway 1) to keep it from flying away and 2) because we're going to use hay instead of city-recognized mulch and so people will be more inclined to like it visually.

Our budget for this project is approximately 0. Not to say we couldn't inspire someone to donate funds to have a nice little fence put up, but it's a longer shot.

The reason they have to go in the park is a long story.

Unless anyone in the Boston area wants to adopt two chinquapins?? Harriet and Ozzie are %100 toilet-trained and never complain or eat off your table. In fact, in a year or two they should be putting food on it!

Just off the cuff.

You could try some really nasty thorns but they might be susceptible to pee and they take more time/money to get planted and working right. And then they rip _you_ to shreds.

I think a fence is best ROI. You want it cheap and functional you probably lose great artistic beauty - you know, the 2 out of 3 thing. Pound in some 2x2's 2' to 3' high, wrap something around them. Maybe nail or lash pallet boards to the 2x's; wire or twine will work. Dogs will pee on the fence as eagerly as the tree but if it's 18"+ away from the trunk it might be OK. Dimension it so it's a pain to jump over - either because of cramped landing space inside or because you put "enhancements" at the top. Maybe string a couple thin wires across the top - positioned to catch and mess up any jumper - if needed. Visual deterrence also plays a part.

$.02


Rufus

Personally I think the moat with low-pee crocs in it is the way to go.

However, should you run into problems with the installation or maybe lose an arm in an unwary moment, there may be other options.

A hand painted sign with an image of a tree perishing from an assault from numerous hounds with legs raised? Ask the park to install a "pee post" as an alternate whiz station? The post could be moved from time to time so the precious grass doesn't burn. It could be a game - Find the pee post!