The Garden Fence - help and support in tough times

monnagran

Just say the word fuddle and I'll be up there in a heartbeat to stand beside you and spit in scary headteacher's face. Metaphorically speaking of course.

Whatever happens do not let her intimidate you with educational cliches and double talk. Just keep,on voicing your opinions and concerns and if she tries to blind you with science acknowledge that she has spoken but go back to what you were saying and repeat it..............and repeat it..............and repeat it until she either understands that you will not be robbed off and addresses your concerns or gives up and makes herself look very foolish.
Ooooooooooooh! Let me at her.

It has been a lovelyday here. Soft warm sunshine and a gentle breeze. I went mad on the washing and had a walk round the garden which is in a right state. It's a bit like the cobbler's children's shoes. My DS is a landscape gardener who wouldn't get any work at all if clients took his own garden for a reference. I have treated myself to a heavily discounted book on growing vegetables in a small space. I've never had the problem of a small garden before and am relishing the challenge.A good 50% of the garden is paved. Not so much crazy as mildly daft. Then there is a muddy patch of grass, even its best friend couldn't call it a lawn. And edged with very narrow flower borders. I'm not so optimistic of being self sufficient in veg but we will have a few straight from plant to pan.

Good luck with the renovations Softstuff.

x

Softstuff

I finished my chair, drumroll please:


Pleased with that. I am however stewing with anger. Next doors cat has decided to start using my herb and veggie garden as a litter tray. Have so far tried chilli and vinegar, anyone got any other suggestions? Don't fancy toxoplasmosis.

CRANKY40

Softstuff wrote: »

I finished my chair, drumroll please:


Pleased with that. I am however stewing with anger. Next doors cat has decided to start using my herb and veggie garden as a litter tray. Have so far tried chilli and vinegar, anyone got any other suggestions? Don't fancy toxoplasmosis.

Mothballs scattered throughout if you can get your hands on any.

silvasava

Lovely job on the chair Softstuff - don't think cats carry toxoplasmosis but its still B annoying when they !!!! in your garden & dig your plants up. They probably like the nice turned over soil as its much more convenient! I tend to use some mesh or cloches until the plants are sturdy enough but I have heard about mothballs too ( the naptha ones) apparently orange peel is a deterrent too.

greenbee

They hate lemon verbena Softstuff, so grow it round the edge of your herb & veg garden.

In the meantime, citrus peel scattered around the area may put them off. And arm yourself with a powerful waterpistol when you are in the garden

ivyleaf

Lovely chair Softstuff :T So sorry about the cat (I believe orange peel is meant to help, but I don't know if it works), and about your poor toe. I know just what you mean; I've broken several over recent years, usually by stubbing them, and they are quite bent now, making it hard to find shoes that don't rub any of their joints Oh well, won't be too long (hopefully) until I can wear sandals.

juliettet

Go Fuddle!

burtha

Hi all,
I have spent the last 2 days under a duvet, with a stupid cold , bit better today although still coughing,but have to get out and motivated,god knows what foods left in the house , and the place looks like a bomb has gone off..so I have until tomorrow night to get better , need to work a shift then and Sunday afternoon that there is literally know body else that can do it ..
So hot bath now and onwards from there ...
Fuddle scary headteacher , ..There is only one of her ,lots of us ,although I am sure??? that we all haven't been called scary in the past ... just keep talking ,keep going back to the point you want to make ,not the point she wants you to go to ,..sats are horrible,waste of time ...My youngest dd was a the point of daily vomiting during them ...only to get through them then on starting new school , new school repeated all exams anyway to check kids in right place , but they did them in the much better way , with much less stress ..... so it may be worth checking with secondary school as to what they do .....

Softstuff

silvasava wrote: »

Lovely job on the chair Softstuff - don't think cats carry toxoplasmosis but its still B annoying when they !!!! in your garden & dig your plants up. They probably like the nice turned over soil as its much more convenient! I tend to use some mesh or cloches until the plants are sturdy enough but I have heard about mothballs too ( the naptha ones) apparently orange peel is a deterrent too.

I'm not sure about England, but over here cat poo is a major cause
https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/toxoplasmosis

Too many plants to mesh, so will get some oranges tomorrow. Don't fancy mothballs near food, but will bear it in mind for other plants.

I'll get some lemon verbena too, thanks Greenbee.

Ivyleaf, sounds like our feet could be twins, well, ugly sisters

nuatha

Softstuff wrote: »

I finished my chair, drumroll please:


Pleased with that. I am however stewing with anger. Next doors cat has decided to start using my herb and veggie garden as a litter tray. Have so far tried chilli and vinegar, anyone got any other suggestions? Don't fancy toxoplasmosis.

Well done on the chair.
We have three cats, I use spiky twigs to keep them off the fresh dug beds - though the year I used gooseberry and blackcurrant trimmings I ended up with a lot more fruit brushes. Round the border and a few spaced down the middle, seems to work well. I've also found they aren't keen on weed suppressant mat - a woven black fabric that seems to catch in their claws (and keeps the weeding to a minimum win-win).
Water pistols do seem to be an effective deterrent, but its catching them - I wonder if a sprinkler system on a timer would have the same effect and water your plants at the same time.
HTH