My neibour has just aquired two cats. I hope they are intent on catching rabbits,rats and mice as the previous ones were. My vegs are mostly netted to stop the rabbits.
My old cat refuses to venture farther out than the patio, unless it is sunny and warm, I was horrified to find piles of cat poo in my old stone clematis trough the other day. After I cleaned it out,(Does anyone know if catpoo is either harmful or beneficial to clematis and daffodil bulbs?) I raided the greenhouse for thin green plant support sticks and planted them in the trough, fairly close together, so far so clean. If it works, it seems like a cheap and cheerful solution.
We suffer from the cat that lives 9 doors away! We have tried a sonic thing but the batteries need charging every few days I have also tried scardy cat plants but last years cold killed them off. I cover my beds with sticks and wooden planks but it just goes on the grass then and that is even more of a risk to my children. I do shoot it with a water pistol if I see it during the day but it seems to do its business at night. Any advise gratefully recived.
The citrus one has worked for me, scattering pieces of lemon peel around beds, but keeps having to be replaced regularly. I was going to try the lion dung but have decided to go for a sonic cat repeller, heard mixed reviews of them but like the idea of sticking it out there and leaving it to it! We'll see how it works. Has anyone here actually found they work?
Buy a water scarecrow moveable, 24/7 takes care of deer, herons, foxes and cats but can be adjusted to be bird friendly. Not cheap but it works and saves money in the long run...and along with your blood pressure! Don't go for any 'copies' as they are not worth the money by all accounts - Amazon had an offer on them before Xmas. I've had mine for nearly 6 years and it is still going strong, it has protected my patio, bulbs, seedlings, veg patch and pond at different times with 100% success.
This year I am going to try citronella oil mixed with water. I've read that it is highly effective. Apparently it can be safely administered to paths but it's not for use on grass or plants. Perhaps there is a way of using it to create a border around your patch?
PS as to the cat problem i put down holly twigs every year and keep them topped up.This was past down to me by my dear old grandad; just cut them up in small pieces and put around your gardens they rot down but still work and are available all year round.Thanks
we use old coffee grinds to stop the cats in our garden. Speak to local cafe or coffee shop and get them to collect all their coffee grinds in a large old bucket or container etc. Then just sprinkle the grinds around the garden where you don't want cats to go... learn't this trick working as a gardener for East Lothian Council last year. It worked, until the rain eventually soaked away the grinds - also had the garden smelling of coffee for a while but it's better than cats! Cheers!
I bought two metal windmills (like the plastic ones you see at the seaside) from Hampton Court flower show last year. I bought them as decoration and put them near the veg plots. They make a noise as they go around and not only have they scared off the pigeons but I have noticed a lack of cats using my veg patch as their local toilet.
OK. I have 8 of the little devils - all strays that I've reluctantly taken in because I am a push over when it comes to cats. I use old, rusty stock fencing. If you go out into the countryside you will often see bundles/roles of it discarded next to new fences that have been replaced. The farmer or shepherds will only be too glad for you to take it away as long as you ask permission.
'Rusty' fencing is best because you can't see it against the colour of the earth - it is quite invisible from even a few feet away, especially once the plants start growing. 'Old' fencing is best because it is most effective if it is crumpled up befor it is laid over the top. If the fencing is too flat, the cats will just scratch in between the wires, eventually covering them with soil, so your barrier will vanish! If it is well crinkled up it is much more difficult for the cats to wiggle their paws and bums in around in it. I have had no problems with them getting stuck or anything like that because stock fencing (unlike more dence guage fencing) has quite wide square gaps. A double layer put over the vegitables and flowers is even more effective, but the more layers, the more difficult it is to lift and to weed, so a good ballence depends on the crop/flower type.
Posts
My neibour has just aquired two cats. I hope they are intent on catching rabbits,rats and mice as the previous ones were. My vegs are mostly netted to stop the rabbits.
My old cat refuses to venture farther out than the patio, unless it is sunny and warm, I was horrified to find piles of cat poo in my old stone clematis trough the other day. After I cleaned it out,(Does anyone know if catpoo is either harmful or beneficial to clematis and daffodil bulbs?) I raided the greenhouse for thin green plant support sticks and planted them in the trough, fairly close together, so far so clean. If it works, it seems like a cheap and cheerful solution.
We suffer from the cat that lives 9 doors away! We have tried a sonic thing but the batteries need charging every few days I have also tried scardy cat plants but last years cold killed them off. I cover my beds with sticks and wooden planks but it just goes on the grass then and that is even more of a risk to my children. I do shoot it with a water pistol if I see it during the day but it seems to do its business at night. Any advise gratefully recived.
The citrus one has worked for me, scattering pieces of lemon peel around beds, but keeps having to be replaced regularly. I was going to try the lion dung but have decided to go for a sonic cat repeller, heard mixed reviews of them but like the idea of sticking it out there and leaving it to it! We'll see how it works. Has anyone here actually found they work?
Buy a water scarecrow moveable, 24/7 takes care of deer, herons, foxes and cats but can be adjusted to be bird friendly. Not cheap but it works and saves money in the long run...and along with your blood pressure! Don't go for any 'copies' as they are not worth the money by all accounts - Amazon had an offer on them before Xmas. I've had mine for nearly 6 years and it is still going strong, it has protected my patio, bulbs, seedlings, veg patch and pond at different times with 100% success.
This year I am going to try citronella oil mixed with water. I've read that it is highly effective. Apparently it can be safely administered to paths but it's not for use on grass or plants. Perhaps there is a way of using it to create a border around your patch?
PS as to the cat problem i put down holly twigs every year and keep them topped up.This was past down to me by my dear old grandad; just cut them up in small pieces and put around your gardens they rot down but still work and are available all year round.Thanks
we use old coffee grinds to stop the cats in our garden. Speak to local cafe or coffee shop and get them to collect all their coffee grinds in a large old bucket or container etc. Then just sprinkle the grinds around the garden where you don't want cats to go... learn't this trick working as a gardener for East Lothian Council last year. It worked, until the rain eventually soaked away the grinds - also had the garden smelling of coffee for a while but it's better than cats! Cheers!
I bought two metal windmills (like the plastic ones you see at the seaside) from Hampton Court flower show last year. I bought them as decoration and put them near the veg plots. They make a noise as they go around and not only have they scared off the pigeons but I have noticed a lack of cats using my veg patch as their local toilet.
OK. I have 8 of the little devils - all strays that I've reluctantly taken in because I am a push over when it comes to cats. I use old, rusty stock fencing. If you go out into the countryside you will often see bundles/roles of it discarded next to new fences that have been replaced. The farmer or shepherds will only be too glad for you to take it away as long as you ask permission.
'Rusty' fencing is best because you can't see it against the colour of the earth - it is quite invisible from even a few feet away, especially once the plants start growing. 'Old' fencing is best because it is most effective if it is crumpled up befor it is laid over the top. If the fencing is too flat, the cats will just scratch in between the wires, eventually covering them with soil, so your barrier will vanish! If it is well crinkled up it is much more difficult for the cats to wiggle their paws and bums in around in it. I have had no problems with them getting stuck or anything like that because stock fencing (unlike more dence guage fencing) has quite wide square gaps. A double layer put over the vegitables and flowers is even more effective, but the more layers, the more difficult it is to lift and to weed, so a good ballence depends on the crop/flower type.