Herbs garden in large wooden trough & cats

loulou41

I was left with a large wooden trough containing all sorts of herbs from previous owners. It is quite big and approx 18 ins high or higher as it is raised on wooden legs. I am a bit concerned in case the cats do their business there as most of the herbs have now died or dying and I have top up the trough with compost. Does anybody know whether it is a possibility for the cats to jump that high? In my previous home, I did everything to deter that ctas from the border beds, in the end have to give up since they cannot do it in the garden beds, they were doing it on the lawn. Thanks

msgnomey

oh yeah they can jump that high and if it's wooden they can climb it, scratch it and spray it

alanobrien

Cut up some bamboo sticks or similar into 12" lengths and put them in the containers so at least 6" is sticking out of the soil. Approx 4" apart. Cats do not like this one bit and will usually leave the containers alone.

I have two large containers that i grow veg in and use this method, all the local cats including our own leave them alone.

mogadon

You can also put a layer of chicken wire across the top of the soil, the plants will grow straight through it, but it (usually) stops cats.

timmmers

alanobrien wrote: »

Cut up some bamboo sticks or similar into 12" lengths and put them in the containers so at least 6" is sticking out of the soil. Approx 4" apart. Cats do not like this one bit and will usually leave the containers alone.

I have two large containers that i grow veg in and use this method, all the local cats including our own leave them alone.

Wow that's clever and so simple. Are you ex Viet Kong or something :rotfl:

I had a bent semi circle of wire over a similar container..the garden patch I will try that .....I have 3 cats intent on garden domination. Thanks a lot.

t

alanobrien

timmmers wrote: »

Wow that's clever and so simple. Are you ex Viet Kong or something :rotfl:

I had a bent semi circle of wire over a similar container..the garden patch I will try that .....I have 3 cats intent on garden domination. Thanks a lot.

t

:rotfl: No i just like annoying our cat :rotfl:
Twiggy branches cut off from shrubs also work well. Its all about making it uncomfortable for them to do what comes naturally, then they move on somewhere easier.

laurel7172

I stapled some pea netting to the top of my wooden troughs-seemed to work, and it's almost invisible.

tim_n

Local market sells a plant which has strong citrus smells - I think it smells a bit like anti-mosquito. I think it's called Coleus Canina or something. Had some in the car and it was making me feel sick (enclosed space) so in the garden I guess it'll be quite a good deterant.

loulou41

Cannot win, since cats cannot do their business in the flowers beds or wooden trough, they do it right in the middle of the lawn. I give up, what can you do if it is on the lawn!! Thanks

foxgloves

Cats can definitely jump 18 inches. Our cat can get onto our high lounge windowsill in one leap from the floor and it doesn't look as though he's even having to make any effort. Best deterrent I've found is Olbas oil sprinkled onto used teabags. Cats really detest the smell. You need to put out new ones every so often though as the smell does fade in time.

twinklefish

I have my herbs set in gravel and they are doing great. I didn't really have to water them much over the summer, just give them a feed now and again.

I have a cat and there are other local cats that like to take a short cut through my garden but I never find any 'presents' in my herb patch.

Tx