I've been receiving a lot of emails asking for more tips on
keeping cats, dogs and especially puppies out of the garden
so I've been doing research. As far as personal experience
we've had one cat who wouldn't stay inside and one who does.
The only time I had problems in one of the beds I put in some
short pieces of chicken wire and screen where he was using
it as a litter box and he stopped. I've also read that you can
put anything that is scratchy or pokey-broken sticks, plastic
spikes etc. in the bothered beds and it will help. If you have
any thorny stems of raspberry or other berry bushes these
will work great too!
Another important, but certainly not easy, solution when they
are your own pets and not strays is discipline. From the start
you need to use a firm voice, shaking pennies in a can, using
squirt guns or some other noisy alternative for you to show
them they cannot go in the garden area. You can't let up at
any point. Everyone in your household should help with this
and be on the lookout for the times they do venture into the
garden. Also, have some type of visible barriers where you
have flower, herb or vegetable beds. Use landscape timbers,
brick, fence etc. as long as it can be seen so it gives your
pet something they can eventually understand as the "stay
out" area. For easily damaged plants you may have to get
creative until your pet learns and use fencing to keep them
away.
Plastic or cardboard as a mulch will help some to keep cats away, plus you
can lay twigs around the areas where they are digging. If they do
leave waste pick it up and discard into the garbage as soon as
possible. They also don't like wet soil, so water during dry spells.
Though there really isn't any evidence of this working every time,
many gardeners will plant alliums, chamomile, marigolds or rue
in the beds where cat are digging.
A PLANT TO KEEP AWAY PETS?
I was in one of our local garden centers last week looking for a few
bargains and I saw a plant called a Scardy Cat plant. Its proper name
is Coleus canina and apparently it's been known also as "dog be gone",
"bunny be gone" as well. Does it work? Well, I did some checking and
it works for some people and not for others. Various sources say it is
"scentless" to humans. Not true--it did have a scent a little bit like
marigolds---in fact, some people insist they will do the same job and
are easier to grow. I also saw a lot of descriptions bragging about the
blooms and the foliage. It wasn't like your typical coleus in appearance.
It reminded me a little of a mint plant. This coleus can withstand very high
temperatures, over 100, and it can survive down to about 30 degrees. It
spreads by runners and in warmer climates can be invasive if not watched.
Plants can reach 12" - 18" in height, but they can be cut back shorter to
form a border.
From what I read the smell only becomes strong enough when they are
established, which explains why some people try them in pots and they
don't repel any of the animals it claims to. But, I read of some really
good success with the plants when they are located at the corners
of a garden and planted in the ground. My opinion---if you can buy the
plants at a good price and have room to add them to your landscape
they would be a nice addition, and if they live up to their reputation,
a great, all-natural deterrent.
VISITOR'S KITTY TIPS
I have one cat I've called "Moses" who loved " parting" my flower beds
on his daily rounds until someone suggested diluting some "DETTOL"
with water and spraying it where he loved to make his daily blessings.
I can assure your readers, this is the best idea I've ever come across.
No more problems. My flowers are great, but my carrots in the garden
have a brown hue to them. LOL ~Walt, Canada (Note: Dettol is an
antiseptic-disinfectant in concentrate form)
We have successfully
managed to keep the cats away by scattering prickly Mahonia leaves
around their digging areas. ~John
Where I work stray cats hide under our front porch/deck. They use it as a
bathroom and a place to fight and spray. We toss moth balls under and
around the edges. The mothballs smell too but the cats soon get the
message and don't come back so we usually only have to do it once.
~Sandra
The vet suggested spraying the areas
affected with vinegar about once a week or respray if it rains. ~Joyce
Keeping cats out of flower beds, the garden, etc. Poke plastic
forks, tine side up, at various intervals throughout the flower bed.
Works like a charm. ~Carol Fulton
For pests in the garden: spray coyote urine. Sounds disgusting,
but if the pests smell evidence of a predator in the area, they
won't stick around. It's available in garden stores and it WORKS!!
~Jennifer