How to keeps cats out of garden

This is such a common question amongst many of my garden maintenance clients. I continually find cat mess throughout people’s garden and most don’t even have a cat. For one of my clients it is a continuing two year battle to prevent cats from entering the garden and especially preventing them from fouling in the garden. It’s not that any of us hate cats but when it not your own cat which is fouling in your garden then it can be frustrating to have such an attack on your outdoor living space.


There are many products available in garden centres to repel cats from your garden. Some of these products work and some don’t work. In my experience the ultrasonic cat deterrent system is a waste of money it has little or no effect of cats. There are also powders which put cats off from using the same place, which contain aromatic oils that smell revolting. These are fairly effective, but you need to keep reapplying after it has rained and so it is expensive and time consuming. So through a great deal of on going research I think that the most cost effective way of keeping cats out of your garden is to use a combination of garden centre products and natural methods.


Keep cats out of garden the natural way.

Spiky plants are a good way to prevent cats from entering your garden. Cats like humans create desire lines. Routes that we all use to get to a certain place. By breaking up these routes you can deter and prevent cats from walking through your garden. A great way to do this is to repaint your fences and then wait for their little paw prints to a appear on the newly painted panels. Once your know where they are entering and exiting your garden you can grow plants which will prevent them from using this space again. I planted the wall shrub Pyracantha in these spaces with great results. It spiky thorns stopped the cats from climbing the fences. Some other great plants for this method are Berberis, Roses and Hawthorn.


There are also plants which cats are said to detest the smell. The herb Rue is said to deter cats and also recently there has been a mysterious plant named Pee-Off, which as far as a colleague has found is a member of the Coleus family, which as most gardeners know is only half-hardy.
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. Our resident cat reacts strongly to the smell!
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.
cocoa bean shells









Keep cats out of your garden by encouraging them to one specific area!

This isn’t a novel idea but something very few people are willing to try. It is possible to keep cats out of where you don’t want them and into a small area of the garden where you do. This can help keep other small rodents out of your garden too.

By giving cats there own space to play and rest you’ll find they wont be interested in other areas of the garden. Although, this does mean they might foul in this space, but at least it is contained!

To create this space you’ll need to use plants which attract cats. Attracting cats can easily be achieved through the texture of plants. Cats love to chew, play and relax around and on grass. In my neighbourhood, they especially love to sit on Carex comans.(New Zealand hair sedge) I frequently find a present for me left by cats within the centre of one of these plants. It is my belief that the soft nature of this grass is comforting to cats in an outdoor environment and I frequently see them basking in the sun. This is not the only grass which cats like, others include: oat grass, lemon grass , wheat grass and fountain grass.

Another way of attracting cats is through the use of medicinal methods using plants which are known to stimulate cats.

Nepeta also known as catmint or catnip is very effective on cats by stimulating the cats’ pheromonic receptors, inducing a elated state. Catmint is a hardy, long flowering perennial that belongs in a cottage garden. nepeta cataria is the variety which is thought to be the most attractive to cats

Valerian is a plant which is known to work in a same way as Nepeta. The roots of valerian contain actinidine another active compound known to stimulate cats and insects. Valerian is a plant which was introduced to Britain by the Romans in 450AD. It often grows where you don’t want it, but Their are some more ornamental variety in various pinks and white.

Other plants known to attract cats are Viburnum opulus, Silver vine (Actinidia polygama), Mint , Nemophila menziesii (annual plant) Nepeta nepetella, Jacob's Ladder, Valeriana phu, and V. celtica.

Gardens in July

July is peak flowering time for most gardens, perennial favourites such as Lavender, Penstemon, Fuchsias and Crocosmia are all coming into flower. In fact, just about everything in the garden is in full swing, even the weeds! On the horizon are the summer holidays and perhaps you’re preparing to leave your well-tendered gardens for a week or two. Maybe you’re wondering who will water your house plants whilst you’re away. Why not give your house plants a holiday too? It’s now the perfect time. If you think the only place to grow house plants is on a sunny window sill think again. Most tender plants you have growing inside would be quite happy to spend the summer in the garden. Bromeliads, Cacti, succulents, palms, swiss cheese plants, spider plants, Coleus, and many other house plants can create all sorts of interesting displays in the garden.

Here is my 4 step guide to creating a rainforest or desert garden.
1. Dig an area set aside for your display and mix some compost with the soil. Once you’ve done this, walk over the whole area on your heels, firming the soil to remove air pockets. Level the surface with a rake.
2. Dig a hole the same depth as the pot. Sink houseplants in their pots into the soil. It’s a good idea to place them out first so you can decide what looks best where.
3. For your desert garden you could finish by spreading gravel around the collar of the plant to prevent leaves from rotting and for the rainforest garden ornamental bark would add to its look.
4. Don’t forget, bring all plants back inside in Autumn

Things to do this month –It’s a good time to cut off those faded flower heads especially roses. This will encourage further blooms to form later in the summer. It’s worth making time to potter, tidy your beds, do some weeding and water pots and plants if they need it

Gardens in May

May is the month of great change in the garden. There is something new to see everyday, even if it is the relentless growth of weeds amongst your specimen plants. I always associate the month of May with the flowering of Wisteria. This classic early flowering climber which is predominantly known for its long trailing lilac-blue flowers can grow to 10 metres. A great example of this plants superb flowers can be found at Cannington College (now Bridgwater College) The historic walls of this old Priory are literally smothered with this plant and when I studied there, their use to be a wisteria weekend in May, which I’m sure is still happening and is definitely worth a visit. Plants of interest this month include the Judus tree, bearing mauve/pink pea like flowers which grow straight out of the branches. This great specimen tree is ideal for any garden in our part of the country. More common plants which you will be able to spot along our road sides and coastal spots are Tamarix tetranda (Tamarisk) and Sambucus nigra. (Elderberry)

Things to do this month – In the middle of May and onwards plant out bedding plants, pot grown dahlia and tender exotics. It’s also a good time to clip beech, box and cypress trees. In the vegetable garden sow swede, beetroot peas, Swiss chard, radish, lettuce and spring onions.

Gardens in April

This year more so than previous years your borders might look a bit tired due to the harsh winter. Perhaps now is the time to give it an overhaul with a fresh planting scheme.

Here is my 7 step guide to creating a new border

1. Assess your border and decide what’s worth keeping. Don’t be afraid to be ruthless.

2. Dig out old shrubs. If they still look good replant them to fill other gaps in your garden.

3. Dig the soil over thoroughly, breaking it up to aerate it and relieve compaction. Mix some home-grown compost or even consider buying a bag or two from the garden centre.

4. Dig the border deeply mixing the compost thoroughly. Once you’ve done this, walk over the whole area on your heels, firming the soil to remove air pockets. Level the surface with a rake.

5. Lay out the plants, placing them into their rough position. Take your time, stand back and view these from various angles.

6. Now plant it up. Dig holes large enough to for each root ball.

7. Dig a generous amount of peat-free compost, bark or other mulching material around the plant to retain moisture and help prevent weeds (for a while).

You may like to put wall flowers into your new border. A star performer, which as far as I can tell flowers for 11months of the year, is Erysimum ‘bowles Mauve’ It produces vibrant blooms that contrast well with green and golden leaved neighbours. They are hardy but after 3 years they’ll begin to lose shape, so it’s better to pick some non flowering side shoots and sow them in summer. Another great perennial wall flower is Apricot delight – it’s equally impressive.

By now you should be enjoying your camellias if you have them. They prefer acid soil so you may have them in a pot with some ericaceous compost. However, varieties such as ‘X williamsii’ tolerate free draining alkaline soil which some of you may have. Camellias cry out to be admired close- up, even on the coldest days. Be warned though, early morning frost harm their buds and blooms. This can be prevented by pegging over a large piece of fleece when frost is forecast. It’s worth doing because it makes the display last longer. These make a great indoor display if you cut single blooms and float them in a glass bowl of water.

Things to do this month – Sow sweet peas directly in the soil at the base of an obelisk or other support. Plant out gladioli in groups of single varieties through April. Trim off faded blooms from winter-flowering heathers and early daffodils. Sprinkle rose fertiliser around roses and other flowering shrubs.