Cats make great companions, but they can wreak havoc on gardens and flowerbeds by digging up plants, using soil as litter boxes and chewing up blooms. Luckily, there are humane solutions to stop cats from invading your garden space.
Cats tend to avoid rough surfaces, so try covering soil with pine cones or coarse pebble mulch. Since cats don’t enjoy being wet either, a motion-activated sprinkler that squirts water near cats may deter them from entering your garden.
Mulching
Cats can cause great harm to flowerbeds by digging (and leaving deposits), chewing, and using plants as soft napping spots. Furthermore, their feces contain parasites which affect humans; humane deterrents are available to keep cats away from these areas.
Cat-repelling scent repellents include citrus, ammonia, peppermint and eucalyptus oil as well as predator urine (coyote-scented sprays or scent). All can help deter cats from digging in or walking through your garden or flower bed.
Another method involves burying small jars (like baby food jars or wine bottles ) filled with fine-grained sand or catnip near where you want cats away from your plants. Cats tend to dislike this smell and will therefore avoid this area.
Fencing
If your flower beds are being regularly trampled on by cats and used as outdoor litter boxes, chicken wire fencing may be the answer. Effective and cost-effective, chicken wire will make walking uncomfortable for cats while deterring them from digging into the soil to create their personal litter box.
If the fence doesn’t do the trick, perhaps consider installing a motion-activated sprinkler which shoots bursts of water at any cat that ventures near your garden. Cats won’t appreciate being surprised with a sudden burst of water; perhaps they’ll move on in search of other pleasures instead.
Other deterrents might include unpleasant odors and rough surfaces that will cause cats discomfort, such as placing tape balls that adhere to their skin as an inexpensive means of keeping cats away from flowers.
Lattice
As you take pride in creating a stunning flower garden, the last thing you want is for local felines to use it as their lounge or toilet. There are various approaches you can take to keep cats away, including creating physical barriers or making the environment unpleasant enough that cats won’t visit; or simply scaring them away by creating physical barriers around your garden or scaring it away altogether.
Chicken wire embedded into the soil can help deter cats from venturing into your flower garden. Standard chicken wire can be found at hardware stores and should be laid over your soil prior to planting – plants will grow through any gaps, while cats find its texture uninviting for walking on.
Scented repellents can also help deter cats from your garden, such as pepper or citrus-scented oil sprinkled onto the soil. Please be aware that their scent will dissipate after rainfall; to maintain effectiveness you’ll need to replenish them regularly.
Pine Cones
Pine cones and other prickly objects can help keep cats away from flower beds because they don’t like to step on them. Scatter prickly branches, pine cones and clippings from roses in your desired area before covering them with mulch – particularly rough varieties such as coarse wood chips or rock that cats won’t easily dig into.
Scent barriers may also help deter cats from your garden, such as pine cones soaked in citronella oil. If kitty is persistent in entering, use a sprayable deterrent designed specifically to be safe around plants or water bodies – cats typically dislike being squirted with water which will make them uncomfortable and may prevent their return; you could also set up a motion-activated sprinkler system to spritz them when they wander too close to flowerbeds.
Plants
Simple measures can help keep local cats away from your flower garden while creating an ideal environment for healthy plants. The key is using methods that are humane and won’t cause pain or distress to cats.
Citrus scent is an effective cat deterrent; sprinkle orange or lemon peels over your soil surface, and stray cats should stay at bay. Marigolds and rue can also serve as effective deterrent plants while adding vibrant hues to your garden!
Plastic bird netting can be placed over newly planted beds to deter cats from digging into the soil, while motion-activated sprinklers with bursts of water when activated may also help keep cats at bay while providing your plants with some much-needed hydration.