I've only read the last couple of pages of this thread so I don't know if this has already been mentioned... but just in case: for my raised veg beds I've "sewn together" pieces of clematis netting (the semi-rigid plastic stuff) so I have a piece for each bed. I weigh them down with stones in the corners, and use them when the bed is empty or I'm waiting for seeds to germinate. Depending on the crop, I leave the netting on if the plants can grow through it without a problem, like peas & beans, or take it off for things like salad crops. I have smaller bits of netting to fasten down between rows if necessary, and also use rose prunings occasionally, especially round new plantings in flower beds. Most of the ornamental part of my garden has virtually no bare soil - lots of ground cover - which is the key, I think.
Nothing seems to stop the fox which cr*ps on my lawn all winter, though...
Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
Liriodendron after years of getting fed up with any fresh soil being used I also resorted to a roll of Clematis mesh. It at least does not look as bad as dozens of stick and the pain of prickly stuff (quite literally) lying around and looking stupidly messy. I have also used it for the odd clematis.
You can also bend and push it slightly into the ground, or use a couple of short sticks or thick wire to hold in place slightly off the ground. Short cane or hazel sort of woven into a lower hole and back out higher up if it needs to be a little higher than stones holding it to make a higher tunnel.
I also try and use ground cover but there are always areas you want to mulch or revamp.
Fox poo is a rather bad pooh isn't it! , afraid I cannot help with that.
I have a super soaker, whenever the cats come into my garden, I use it. This sends them a message - "don't mess with me". They know my garden is my territory and they run away whenever they see me. I think this is the most effective, as cats are territorial and they learn!
The second measure I have is skewers! Cheap and effective, I only have a small garden so I only have two raised beds to worry about. I stick the skewers in between plants (areas that are big enough for cats to think "ah ... nice litter box!"). I guess this will be useful if you, like me, have a small garden or you want to protect the vegetable patches in your garden and most importantly don't really care if it looks a bit odd! I mean it does the job!! No more picking up poo!
I also tried all the other things (the powder, the gel, the ultrasonic device, you name it!) except lion poo! Nothing works best than the two I recommended!
I put in two RSPB sonic devices last year and after seven months it is clear that they work very well. Choose the devices that plug into the mains (not batteries). My local cats seem incredibly attached to my garden and quite determined to defecate under my window. They spend months trying to find sneak routes, sliding against fences to avoid the sonic beep, so you might have to move the devices every now again and spend good time analysing the best spots to achieve best sonic coverage. I have two to cover all the designated toilet area. It has been quite comic watching a cat trying to climb along the top of a rickety old diamond trellis to avoid the sonic tripping. Something like a Tom and Jerry cartoon.
I was sceptical about the devices as I have tried so many things. Nothing else remotely works. These do. I was given the advice to trial them for six months and then decide if you like them. Cats take a while to understand what's going on as the sound is uncomfortable but not painful.
I have mixed this approach with sprinkled very hot chilli powder (in the summer) and have had great results.
Hi everybody, yes, skewers are great. I started off sticking plastic forks or knives in the ground but then found these rolls of bamboo sticks in a £1 shop, so every now and then I buy a couple of rolls and dismantle them and use the sticks. Does the trick as the cats can't find a way in or bit painful if they sit on them HA! HA! Still can't stop the tom cats from spraying though, stinky creatures.
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Nothing seems to stop the fox which cr*ps on my lawn all winter, though...
You can also bend and push it slightly into the ground, or use a couple of short sticks or thick wire to hold in place slightly off the ground.
Short cane or hazel sort of woven into a lower hole and back out higher up if it needs to be a little higher than stones holding it to make a higher tunnel.
I also try and use ground cover but there are always areas you want to mulch or revamp.
Fox poo is a rather bad pooh isn't it! , afraid I cannot help with that.
I have a super soaker, whenever the cats come into my garden, I use it. This sends them a message - "don't mess with me". They know my garden is my territory and they run away whenever they see me. I think this is the most effective, as cats are territorial and they learn!
The second measure I have is skewers! Cheap and effective, I only have a small garden so I only have two raised beds to worry about. I stick the skewers in between plants (areas that are big enough for cats to think "ah ... nice litter box!"). I guess this will be useful if you, like me, have a small garden or you want to protect the vegetable patches in your garden and most importantly don't really care if it looks a bit odd! I mean it does the job!! No more picking up poo!
I also tried all the other things (the powder, the gel, the ultrasonic device, you name it!) except lion poo! Nothing works best than the two I recommended!
I hope this is helpful to you as well!!