Cats can cause havoc to flower gardens by digging, leaving unwanted deposits behind and chewing flowers to use as soft napping spots. Luckily, there are natural ways to deter cats from your garden.
Burying ammonia-filled jars underground may help deter both cats and dogs, while Coleus canina plants (commonly referred to as scaredy cat plants) also serve as effective deterrents.
Tape
Cats can create havoc in flower beds by digging holes and depositing their waste, as well as using them for soft napping spots. Nontoxic ways to discourage cats include covering the soil with aluminum foil, pine cones or plastic forks; for potted plants Ludwiczak suggests covering it in aluminum foil or placing chopsticks around it; in urns and window boxes tape balls can be placed into the soil to cling onto their fur when jumping up onto it – an affordable and quick solution that doesn’t harm either the plants nor cats themselves. This method costs nothing extra but doesn’t harms either the cats nor plants!
Scattering ground black pepper or cayenne pepper around an area works to deter cats while fitting in seamlessly with dirt and mulch in flower beds. Gardeners also recommend marigolds for their strong aroma that deters cats; citronella oil, lemongrass oil, peppermint oil and eucalyptus oil all can serve to deter cats as well. You could spray diluted drops of these scents directly on flowers or strategically hang cotton wool balls soaked with one of these oils at entryways into your garden or specific areas where cats should avoid.
Physical Barriers
Cats can wreak havoc on flower gardens by digging, leaving deposits, using the soil as a soft napping spot and chewing plants. To deter cats from entering your garden requires both physical and scent repellents to keep them out.
Make a physical barrier in the garden by burying chicken wire, burlap or pieces of coir mat, to keep cats out of seedbeds, window boxes and planters but this may not work as effectively for staking up thorny flowers such as Nepeta.
Gardeners who want to stop cats from digging and crawling over their garden often line it with plastic bird netting, which prevents cats from digging or crawling over it. It also keeps out chipmunks and squirrels that could aid felines. Motion activated sprinkler devices that release bursts of water when activated by motion are another viable solution that won’t waste water in other parts of your yard while still being low-powered enough not to cause cat distress.
Cat-Attracting Plants
Felines can be very useful garden companions by controlling pests such as rabbits and voles, but their destructive antics may prove disastrous for flower beds. Cats tend to dig (leaving behind unintended deposits), chew, use plants as soft napping spots and spread dirt across their way. To deter cats from damaging your garden further, include plant varieties cats don’t care for such as rosemary, lemon thyme, rue, lavender Russian Sage Chives etc in your landscape design as these may deter cats. Plants with prickly leaves such as sea Holly and globe thistle may also work – try including these plants into your landscape design plan to deter cats!
Coleus canina, commonly referred to as the scaredy cat plant, emits an unpleasant odor which deters cats from venturing into areas you do not wish them to visit. Plus, its stunning foliage and blooms make care easy; Impatiens blooms beautifully under shade-loving conditions while not toxic to felines when nibbled upon!
Water
Cats can be invaluable allies when it comes to protecting gardens from rodents and other pests, yet can also damage flowerbeds with their digging (leaving unauthorized deposits behind), chewing and using plants as soft napping spots. A few simple measures can help deter cats and protect your plants.
Water repellents can be effective ways of keeping cats away from gardens and flowerbeds. By spraying cats with a water hose or setting up an automatic sprinkler system that activates when it senses an animal, water repellents are an efficient means of driving these felines away without harming your plants or yourself.
Cats typically avoid rough surfaces and unpleasant scents, so placing crushed egg shells or sand in areas you want to safeguard can help deter cats from coming near your garden. You could also bury plastic cutlery filled with ammonia into the garden to deter cats from stepping on it. Also safe for your flowers are citrus, mint, pine needles, eucalyptus oil or capsaicin (from peppers). Add these scent repellants around the garden as repellents to drive cats away!