You might be a lover of cats (or you might not) but that
does not change the fact that they are pests for the vegetable garden
and can in fact be the biggest pain in the backside, even when compared
to slugs I might add. Cats dig up your garden, poop all over it and
basically completely ruin it, destroying crops.
I actually don't mind having cats in the garden, they don't bother me at all. The issue I have with them is when they start using my vegetable garden (in fact, my garden in general) as a litter tray. I just don't appreciate them using it in this way. Who would?
But don't panic! Please don't panic! There are ways to prevent these 'pests' from trampling all over your vegetables and completely destroying them. I've listed all of the precautions I take when it comes to stopping cats digging up my vegetable garden.
1. DON'T use cat repellent - It doesn't work basically. I've tried a few different brands and none seem to do the job. To me, using a cat repellent around my vegetables is a no go anyway as I've no idea what they've sprayed it with. But that's not the point, the point is they don't work so there's no point in using them.
2. A great idea is to not sow seeds directly into the soil but instead start everything off in pots and seed trays. The problem with cats is that they dig up seeds deeming them completely useless. However, if you grow them in pots, then you don't have this worry so when you plant them out, they should already be established and strong enough to look after themselves.
3. Netting works quite well also, however, I have seen cats who don't give two hoots about netting and who will trample all over it. But it's worth a shot, some cats won't go near the netting. Simply lay netting flat over your beds and use pegs to lay it down and to hold it down securely.
4. Chicken wire works just as well as netting except it's a little more expensive. If you can get curved chicken wire that will fit over your beds then all the better. It's far more robust compared to netting so that's why it works so well, even if a cat clambers on it, it tends to still stay standing protecting your beds.
5. Coffee grounds have been rumoured to work well, basically the old coffee grounds after you've made a fresh coffee. I say rumoured because I personally haven't tried them. My netting and wire combination works well so I don't need to use any weird tricks, but I have heard a lot of people mention ground coffee so give it a go.
5 tips to prevents cats digging up and destroying your vegetable patch. Now it's time to begin putting it all into practice. Good luck and enjoy it!
I actually don't mind having cats in the garden, they don't bother me at all. The issue I have with them is when they start using my vegetable garden (in fact, my garden in general) as a litter tray. I just don't appreciate them using it in this way. Who would?
But don't panic! Please don't panic! There are ways to prevent these 'pests' from trampling all over your vegetables and completely destroying them. I've listed all of the precautions I take when it comes to stopping cats digging up my vegetable garden.
1. DON'T use cat repellent - It doesn't work basically. I've tried a few different brands and none seem to do the job. To me, using a cat repellent around my vegetables is a no go anyway as I've no idea what they've sprayed it with. But that's not the point, the point is they don't work so there's no point in using them.
2. A great idea is to not sow seeds directly into the soil but instead start everything off in pots and seed trays. The problem with cats is that they dig up seeds deeming them completely useless. However, if you grow them in pots, then you don't have this worry so when you plant them out, they should already be established and strong enough to look after themselves.
3. Netting works quite well also, however, I have seen cats who don't give two hoots about netting and who will trample all over it. But it's worth a shot, some cats won't go near the netting. Simply lay netting flat over your beds and use pegs to lay it down and to hold it down securely.
4. Chicken wire works just as well as netting except it's a little more expensive. If you can get curved chicken wire that will fit over your beds then all the better. It's far more robust compared to netting so that's why it works so well, even if a cat clambers on it, it tends to still stay standing protecting your beds.
5. Coffee grounds have been rumoured to work well, basically the old coffee grounds after you've made a fresh coffee. I say rumoured because I personally haven't tried them. My netting and wire combination works well so I don't need to use any weird tricks, but I have heard a lot of people mention ground coffee so give it a go.
5 tips to prevents cats digging up and destroying your vegetable patch. Now it's time to begin putting it all into practice. Good luck and enjoy it!
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