Cats are an unpleasant garden nuisance that can derail your flower beds by digging in them and turning the soil into litter boxes. However, there are ways you can keep cats at bay without harming the flowers themselves.
One way of doing this is with motion-activated sprinklers that spray cats when they get near flower beds, which is an inexpensive and safe method that won’t harm plants.
Cat Fence
One effective method for keeping cats away from flower gardens is enclosing it with a cat-proof fence. According to iCat Care, 6 feet is the optimal height, as cats have difficulty leaping over it. There are various options for cat proof fencing such as electric fencing that can be found at hardware and home supply stores – though these might cost more. They still serve their purpose of deterring cats.
Create a mesh or chicken wire barrier around your flower garden for added protection from cats. This process should only require minimal effort but space will likely be needed; once complete, be sure to bury its base so cats do not dig underneath it!
Add spike strips, which can be very intimidating to felines, to reinforce this barrier and possibly scare them away. These strips can be found at most garden centers or online. Other effective barriers may include using metal lattice to block beds and spreading scents that repel cats – for instance citrus peels and essential oils can serve to deter cats without harming plants.
Sticks & Stones
Obstacles can help keep cats away from flower gardens without harming them, according to Haddon. A field of pointy sticks could make walking through it more difficult and scare away cats without hurting them, as will items that smell bad like citrus peels or essential oils which might also deter cats from entering.
Planting Coleus canina near flower beds where cats frequent can help deter them with its strong fragrance, as it tolerates many environments without becoming toxic to pets or people.
Edging your flower beds with chicken wire can also create an obstacle, serving to discourage rabbits from digging into your flowers. Furthermore, chicken wire edging can also be laid along walkways between plants or along garden fences; standard chicken wire is readily available from many hardware stores.
Cat Repellents
Cats can be curious creatures, and will occasionally try to enter flower beds even when you have made it clear they should stay out. According to Haddon, creating barriers such as coarse mulch or chicken wire are effective physical deterrents that will prevent cats from invading your garden. A scarecrow may serve as a visual reminder that this area is off limits to them; another solution would be using an ultrasonic sound generator which emits sounds inaudible to humans yet highly repulsive to cats.
Combining multiple strategies will help keep cats out of your garden, giving you more time to tend your plants instead of chasing off pesky felines. Over time, training cats to stay away can eventually teach them to focus more on other tasks like hunting or playing with their owners rather than spending their time sniffing around your yard.
Cat Litter
if you’re tired of cleaning up cat poop in your garden, make it less appealing for cats by filling areas with coarse mulch (which also benefits flowers) or laying plastic fencing or chicken wire flat on the ground – both options make it harder for cats to dig in the soil, potentially discouraging future visits from these furry creatures.
Create an unattractive environment for cats by planting repellant plants like rosemary, lemon thyme, rue or lavender in your flower garden. Dried leaves of these can also be scattered around areas you need protection from them. Coleus canina (commonly referred to as Scaredy Cat Plant) emits an unpleasant scent which deters cats from entering.
An effective way to deter cats from visiting your flower garden is with a scarecrow stuffed with objects they dislike – like strong odors and mothballs – as a deterrent. A homemade cat repellent spray made from vinegar and water may also work to deter their visits.