Veggie Plot

SamPriest

Hi guys... I spent last weekend diggin out a 3 x 3m veggie plot. My 2 cats think this is great but have somewhat missed the point and see it as a very large litter tray!! I am hoping to sow my seeds etc this coming weekend, but with the cats digging away, I’m worried this may be a wasted exercise. Any ideas how I can keep them off the plot - at least until the plants are well estabilished. Thanks

Sid's_a_gardener

You will need to keep the cats off the veggie plot all the time, not an easy task I'm afraid. Given the chance, the cats will be in there digging up the veg and then using the area as a toilet.

kethry

a small polytunnel may be a good ideal - Lidl were selling some quite cheaply.

failing that, you could put some netting up around the bed, tall netting, held up by canes. if you tie fluttery things to the nets as well it may put the cats off climbing the nets (or thinking about it). Might be worth digging a seperate, smaller bed, without netting, just for them to use as a toilet!the other idea would be to try surrounding your bed with some edging - you can get some pretty edging in wilkos - that's higher than your bed, then use this to support a layer of net across the top. I would try to find and use brightly coloured net though, to stop the cats trying to walk on it.

Only other thing i can think of is a squirty gun filled with water every time a cat goes near it. [they actually recommend this as a method of training your cat, last time i looked up cat training (about 10/15 years ago!) as they don't associate the water with coming from you so they don't come to fear your hand coming in to stroke them (as if they would if you were to smack them), so its quite okay to do that.) You'll have to do it quite a few times, but they will eventually get the message.. if you have older (and a bit more responsible) kids you could ask them to do it for you!

HTH

keth
xx

p.s. just thought of another idea. I know you can buy anti-cat pellets - i think they're made from the poo of lions n tigers, from zoos! you'd have to be careful not to dig them into the soil by your veg, but they give off an odour apparently that cats don't like too much. that might be worth looking into..

julbags

I have the same problem with my little furball, its the reason I'm holding off digging anything over as I have clay soil so when I put sand in it you can just imagine how much he loves that. I've earmarked (or rather he has) an area of the garden which I'm going to turn into a cat toilet - its under a tree so is ideal anyway, I'm going to put loads of sand and a bit of compost in it to make it really attractive to him and then dig it out (lovely) every couple of weeks. Once that's done hopefully he'll leave the rest of the garden alone. I find he tends to leave things alone once plants are reasonably well established which is why I try to start everything off in modules first.

I've decided on the cat toilet idea as he's my pet and if I "repel" him completely from my garden he'll go to someone elses and that is really not fair.

heather38

you can buy a plant that repels cats,
Scaredy Cat, Scardy Cat (Plectranthus caninus) (Coleus Canina).

Attractive half-hardy plant with grey-green foliage which gives off a strong aroma especially when touched or in the sun. The aroma is disliked by most cats and dogs.
In summer it produces heads of pale blue flowers which also give off a strong aroma.
If planted in a container this can be moved around the garden, thus protecting different areas of the garden from unwanted attention from cats. The pot can then be over-wintered in a frost free area.
Full sun or light shade. Any reasonable soil.

i've never tried it but my mum works in a garden centre and she says they sell loads

Loadsabob

I've never been able to deter cats with citronella, which they are supposed to dislike, or orange peel. In the end my boyfriend and I made cages with wooden frames, and net staped to all the sides. I varnished the wood for greater weather resistance. It was a bit time consuming, but probably didn't cost a lot more in materials than the various deterrant products on the market. It works though, I never have to work gingerly in the soil for fear of what I might find! They're lightweight for me to lift off and on each time.

Having read this thread though, it occurs to me I could have just put up big sticks at the four corners of each bed and used sturdy netting...doh!

sal

We have a little cat that likes to check out every patch that we dig over too.

We stop his tricks by placing chicken wire over freshly dug areas, or old trellis or even canes or rose prunings. Looks strange but it saves on smelly surprises or very annoying disturbances in the seed beds.

Once the ground settles after digging he doesn't seem so interested and moves elsewhere (sorry neighbours!)

sal

tomterm8

If you've got a neighbour with a holly / hawthorn hedge, ask them for some clippings & use them as a spikey cat proof barrier - cats surely don't like it up 'em:)

angelavdavis

I cover mine with netting to prevent them getting on the beds (I have raised veggie beds).

http://groups.msn.com/AngelasPhotographicEmporium/gardenproject2005.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1666

I am currently trying out some Roar pellets to see if they will put them off. I have revealed some of my lovingly tended soil but sprinkled the pellets on top to see if the area is used. I will let you know how I get on.

Pandora123_2

angelavdavis wrote: »

I cover mine with netting to prevent them getting on the beds (I have raised veggie beds).

http://groups.msn.com/AngelasPhotographicEmporium/gardenproject2005.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=1666

I am currently trying out some Roar pellets to see if they will put them off. I have revealed some of my lovingly tended soil but sprinkled the pellets on top to see if the area is used. I will let you know how I get on.

Hi Angela,

Love your cloches! Did you make them yourself, and if so, where did you get the materials?

:A

angelavdavis

Hi Pandora,

If you mean the plastic ones, I treated myself - I got them through www.gonegardening.com. I have had them for ages.

http://www.gonegardening.com/xq/ASP/dept_id.6003/pf_id.9900941/referer.GDRSDMKE65EM9GG777D6RTPDEBUJ9DC7/qx/gg_shop/product.htm

You can sign up to their email newsletter and keep an eye open for their reductions - you can also get 5% back through quidco too.

I guess you could try to make them yourself using a wooden frame, corrigated plastic and clear plastic ends but these ones have a rigid aluminium frame that is still good as new.