Keeping Cats out of Garden Beds

I saw the 'keeping cats from spraying' post and wondered instead about how others keep cats from walking through, etc. newly seeded garden beds. Something about fluffy soil just attracts the neighbor's critters.

I've seen someone lay chickenwire over new beds, and I've also done a variation of that with wire hangers, just laying lots of those across the bed. What are some other ideas?

Kelda,

For deer I've seen people use sprinklers connected to a motion detector. One good squirt and kitty probably won't come back! The beauty is that this should also work for dogs, kids, and bunnies. Of course if you forget to turn it off before you go into the garden you'll get zinged as well. But that's half the fun, right?

Dave

I've heard that mixing a little cayenne pepper into the top quarter inch of soil does wonders for keeping kitties out. 

Just this afternoon I was over at a friend's garden who is plagued with this problem. She's been using moth balls and protective plastic, but we saw the cats just eyeing the garden as we came up to it.

So, the low garden fence we 'cat-proofed' with random sticks coming out every direction, hoping they'd get skittish about jumping over it.

There is a podcast I listen to out of the UK called the Alternative Kitchen Garden, and in a recent episode she talks about Pest Repelant Plants, including something called the Scardy Cat that is supposed to keep cats away.

Check this link if you want to listen. http://coopette.com/akg/akg066-pest-repellent-plants

[size=10pt]Catnip![/size]


Not in your garden, of course.
On the other side of the yard.
Put some sand over there too.

In my garden, for newly renovated beds, I place dozens or hundreds of little leafless bamboo shoots --since I have over a hundred square feet of bamboo. These little daggers let sun and rain through, and plant seedlings can come up, but cats avoid getting stabbed. When weeding the neds, I get stabbed.

Once I bought a patented plant that is said to repel cats, digs and rabbits. It has been sold as Scaredy Cat and Piss-Off plant; it is Plectranthus 'Sumcol 01' and you would need to buy enough to cover whatever area you wish to keep cats from. It is a cold-tender perennial, related to Cuban Oregano, a Coleus-like plant in the mint family.

Arthur Lee Jacobson

I have successfully used upside down carpet protector before. The opaque plastic kind that you purchase by the foot. A border of spikey plastic around the bed or in a favorite resting spot or pathway will often deter kitties. Just be careful running out to your garden barefoot at night. ouch! speaking from experience 

one more:
at my current garden there are a lot of mole hills under the trees (but not in the garden). I've noticed that the cats never mess with the garden because they're so stoked on pooping in the mole hills. Wow, I think we've finally hit on a use for mole hills. zone 4 would be nice though, not zone 1

That brings to mind an obvious idea. Create a distraction garden bed! a good sandy area and some catnip might entice them to an acceptable area.