Cats can do tremendous damage to your flower garden, so it is vital to use motion-activated sprinklers that spray cats when they come near. This may give them a good scare and dissuade them from returning in future visits.
Cover your beds with coarse mulch or plastic fencing to make it harder for cats to scratch the soil, or plant prickly plants like sea holly and coleus caninus (nicknamed the scaredy cat plant) that repel cats.
Cat Fence
One of the best ways to keep cats away from your garden is to build physical barriers. A six foot high chain link fence with 2-by-2 mesh will generally deter most cats, while adding an overhang can further provide extra protection.
Chicken wire should also be placed a minimum of 4 inches above where your plants grow; its soft surface won’t harm cats while its sharp edge will discourage digging in your garden.
Home supply stores carry motion-activated sprinklers that spray out bursts of water when they detect movement; when these triggers activated by movement are sensed by their sensors, deterring any intruder from entering your garden. You could also spread cat repellent dust around flower beds; certain flowers and shrubs produce strong scents which deter cats, such as roses, lavender, rue or pennyroyal which emit strong aromas that repel them away – these options might work too!
Scarecrow
Scarecrows can serve many functions in the garden. Scarecrows make a beautiful garden decoration while simultaneously deterring cats from ruining your flowers and vegetables, dating back to over three millennia ago! Scarecrows have long been used as “garden guardians.” You can make your own scarecrows using clothing from thrift stores such as overalls or prom dresses to give them faces by drawing or tying on clothing such as a shirt or hat to them.
Sprays containing scents cats find repellant are another effective means of keeping cats away from your flowerbeds. Some repellents, like citrus and lavender scents, won’t harm cats; others, such as mothballs and capsaicin could.
Motion-activated sprinklers are an easy and cost-effective way to ward off cats and other unwanted intruders from entering your garden without the need for expensive gadgets or chemicals. Watering only when cats enter is also efficient in terms of both time and energy savings; additional strategies could include planting cat-repelling herbs and flowers or covering your flower garden with mesh cloth for additional effectiveness.
Mesh Cloth
Many homeowners find that covering their flower beds with mesh cloth is a cost-effective and simple way to keep cats out of the garden. Made of sturdy material that won’t easily degrade over time, mesh cloth can easily be cut to fit the size and shape of any garden bed or raised vegetable beds – even protected vegetable beds!
An alternative permanent solution is installing a cat fence. These fences are specially designed to keep cats out of your garden using small enough slats for them not to enter, while still offering natural looking fencing options since the buried slats don’t obstruct much of your view of plants and flowers.
Another effective strategy is using physical deterrents like motion-activated sprinklers or pungent herbs and flowers that repel cats – such as lavender, rosemary, rue or coleus caninus (also known as scarey cat plant).
Training
Cats have the potential to cause irreparable damage to flowerbeds by digging (and leaving unauthorized deposits), using them as soft napping spots, chewing up soil and plants and scattering it across their territory. But cats may also help by keeping garden pests such as rabbits and voles at bay.
An effective way of keeping cats out of your garden is using a sprinkler with moderate power to spray when they come near. Use only when you see cats approaching.
Protective mulch such as bristly mulch or plastic chicken wire netting may also help deter cats from climbing over or digging beneath your flowers. Be sure to install thick enough netting that it prevents cats from climbing over it or digging underneath.
Plant cat-deterring plants such as sage, rosemary, thyme and lavender in your flower gardens to ward off cats with strong scents that deter cats. You could also try ammonia and citrus-based scent repellents; coffee grounds spread across flowerbeds may even help! Their powerful smell should deter most cats.