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Cat deterrent

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  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904

    I inherited the prototype when I moved into this house. Clearly things have improved somewhat. Mine are all exploding at the seams and have been painted, many moons ago, with red and green emulsion which isn't weathering all that well!!!!! image It looks like somebody ran amok in a romany camp of the last century!

    Yours I like!

  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236

    Cheers Michael image

  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236

    Hi PP...now why didn't I think of red and green emulsion image

    Sheps...image

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Good thinking Sheps - hope that does the job for you. Ridiculous that we're the ones cat proofing our gardens when it should be the owners.....image  perhaps I'll send them the bill for the materials and all my time  image

    My timber raised beds are all black - no multi coloured headache inducing shades!  

    I added an edging to them to finish them off Sheps. Can't do photos anymore because of the site changes, but I'm sure you can imagine the idea. I used a heavier weight timber for the surrounds with a slightly bevelled edge to it. My beds are made of fencing timber attached to concreted in posts, different heights and sizes, and  the main run of them goes along a high boundary fence with a neighbour.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,384

    Mulches don't generally help, sheps.  One determined cat even uses the slate chippings on my drive as a huge toilet!

    As PP said, lovely planters! imageWhat are you going to grow up the trellises (or is it trelli?) image

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236

    I totally agree Fairygirl...it should be the owners.

    Thanks Bob...in the planters will be as follows

    Centre bed

    Black-eyed Susan ( climbing Yellow variety ) along the entire width, hoping it will fill the entire trellis and some trailing Lobelia around the edges.

    Left and Right beds

    A single Black-eyed Susan ( climbing Orange variety ) on each trellis and either side of BeS some alternating purple Salvia and Rudbeckia with some trailing Lobelia around the edges.

    Now I have a cat poop issue, think I might need a plant to give cover to middle part of the beds, so any suggestions would be appreciated.

    Sheps...

  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904

    I'm afraid the law says that it's up to the householder to keep dogs in and cats out. Good luck with that. No wonder folk resort to drastic measures. 

    I've spent ages wondering what to do with my eyesores and now I'm thinking I might cover them. I had all sorts of drastic notions about trying to mend them but silk purse/sow's ear. I'll disguise them as new fancy ones like yours! image Hurrah!

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    The big problem you'll have is during winter when everything dies back Sheps.

    I'm guessing the site's pretty sunny going by the plants you intend using already, so Lavender might be a good option to give evergreen cover. If there's room, Hebes will also do well. There's a huge amount of varieties so just be careful choosing. You could use things like Arabis, Saxifrages or Aubretia round edges too - they flower early on and give good cover. The first two are evergreen. Colours will work if you like the pinks and purpley colours.  I have a white Arabis which is a good foil for other things. Spring bulbs will also be useful as the stems start to come through in late winter. You can plant them among the evergreen stuff and their foliage will hide the dying stems later on too.

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Can't edit - just remembered - thyme will also work and some will happily fall over the edges of the beds

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TopbirdTopbird Posts: 8,354

    I second the use of some small evergreens for year round interest.

    If you use those as the permanent backbone to your planting you could add a variety of bulbs for spring colour (perhaps different narcissi / hyacinths etc). If the bulbs are planted nice and deeply they should also be able to remain in the planters permanently.

    You could then do summer bedding each year as per your original idea followed by winter / spring bedding using plants such as pansies and primulas. Thyme is certainly a nice edging plant to use and is a great herb to use in the kitchen.

    Some nasturtiums might also look good - perhaps one of the dark red ones. Just poke the seeds in when you're planting up. You can eat the leaves, flowers and seeds of those as well image

    Really nice planters BTW image

    Heaven is ... sitting in the garden with a G&T and a cat while watching the sun go down
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