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Gardening

Find tips and tricks to make your garden or allotment flourish on our Gardening forum.

How do you stop random animals using your flowerbeds as a toilet ?

11 replies

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/05/2021 02:36

One of lifes great mysteries .

We have a newly dug over flowerbed and yes , a fox (by the look of the pooh) has used it .
I want to plant out this weekend , what's the most effective way to stop it all getting dug over , churned up, soiled and ruined .

I used to keep guinea-pigs so I know foxes were around and male urine didn't work (before anyone suggests it Grin )

I do have cats but they use the tray . I'm sure the neighbourhood cats will make a beeline .

Does string across in a grid and tinfoil work?

Orange peel
Pepper

Anything is worth a try .
TIA

OP posts:
Aquamarine1029 · 01/05/2021 02:55

Foxes don't like the smell of white vinegar. Put some bowls/cups of it in several places in the garden.

Beebumble2 · 01/05/2021 07:08

In the past I have used the wooden skewers that are for kebabs. They’re cheap, with lots in the packet. Once I’ve planted I stick them in the empty spaces, making it difficult for animals to walk across.
I’ve also used spent coffee grounds, mixed with citrus peel and Vicks Vapour Rub. ( the cheap version). It’s all about masking the territory smell that the poo leaves behind.
Once when the offending smell lingered, won’t go into the detail, I sprinkled the contents of a wardrobe fresher sachet over the area. Lovely flowery scent hid the pong and completely deterred future soiling.

EssentialHummus · 01/05/2021 07:16

A rag soaked in ammonia works here, just don’t let the ammonia get into the groundwater.

Quincie · 01/05/2021 07:25

When someone complained about cats I wondered if you could use drawing pins to secure that plastic mesh you use in gardens loosely to the top of the fence (the lightweight one that comes scrunched in a box) - their claws /feet would tangle in it. Ok if there's only a couple of places they come in. I use the mesh for protecting stuff from pigeons and it is horrible for getting caught on buttons etc
Otherwise use the mesh over the bed propped on hoops in the middle, stones or wires to peg down the edges.

Suzi888 · 01/05/2021 07:26

Boil chilli, garlic and onion. Spray the mixture where you don’t want the foxes/cats to go.

We used to have a fox come over to sunbathe, but he/she didn’t toilet here. I have a dog and they were not friends, so fox had to leave! Goes to one of our neighbours now and they love it.

MereDintofPandiculation · 01/05/2021 12:02

Lots of small twigs stuck vertically into the ground 3 inches apart.

lljkk · 01/05/2021 12:05

Twigs here, against our own cat.

Soontobe60 · 01/05/2021 12:11

We had a cat shitting in our planter at the front. In Autumn, I cut the perennials right back, planted some spring bulbs then covered the whole thing with chicken wire. Once everything started to grow and cover the soil we removed the wire. Once the bulbs have died back I will plant it with stuff that covers the soil again .

70isaLimitNotaTarget · 01/05/2021 12:12

Thanks for all the tips .
I'm going to try twigs/skewers to make it difficult to walk on , maybe put something visible on the top , I don't want a cat /fox to jump the fence and impale itself .
(I don't like foxes but I don't wish them harm , just a GetOffMyLand )

OP posts:
SantiagoSky · 01/05/2021 12:31

I keep the long rose sprigs with spikes when cutting the roses and lay them down in the places that the cats should keep out.

LakieLady · 01/05/2021 12:33

Lakeland terrier. No fox will go anywhere near them. Grin

When I had my lakie, the foxes that frequent MIL's garden wouldn't set a paw in it for 3 days after we visited.

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