Landscaping Guide For HomeownersLandscaping Guide For Homeowners

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Landscaping Guide For Homeowners

Hello, my name is Justin Malone and on this blog you'll find a lot of useful information about landscaping. When I moved into my newly built home, I didn't even have any grass in my yard, so I had to start from scratch. Before I tackled the project of landscaping my property, I did a large amount of research first. I learned how to plant grass seed, and when the grass started to grow, I researched planting trees. As my yard started taking shape, I planted shrubs and made flower beds. My next landscape project was building a fish pond and I completed it with ease after doing the research. I'm writing this blog as a guide for others who want to do their own landscaping and I hope that it helps you learn how to create a beautiful yard.

Tips To Keep Cats Out Of The Garden

3 January 2017
 Categories: , Blog

Stray cats and wandering neighborhood pets can wreak havoc in your yard. The last thing you want to do is to be digging in your flowerbeds only to uncover an unpleasant surprise. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep the cats away from your beds. The following tips will help.

Tip #1: Protect with mesh

Wire mesh, also called hardware cloth, makes it impossible for cats to dig in the soil. Lay a sheet over the top of your garden beds and then plant through the openings. If you have existing plants, use wire snips to cut an opening for these larger plants to slip through. Wire mesh can also be cut to fit inside planters and window boxes, which are other favorite places for cats to dig.

Tip #2: Switch to rock mulch

Mulched beds can be especially inviting to cats because the soft wood mulch is easy to dig into. It can also sometimes harbor small rodents, which cats may be tempted to chase. Where possible, switch to a rock or gravel mulch, as this is unpleasant on a cat's feet so they will stay out of the bed. Lay the mulch on top of a sheet of landscape fabric so you can easily remove the rocks in the future, if you so desire.

Tip #3: Get rid of temptations

Sometimes a cat picks your yard because it provides too much temptation to stay away. This temptation is often in the form of bird feeders. Make sure any feeders you have are hung up well above ground. Attaching them to the side of the house or to a pole is preferable to a tree, since cats can climb trees. Don't use any ground-based wildlife feeders, including bird baths and squirrel feeders, as these can prove to be too much temptation for the neighborhood cats.

Tip #4: Use a repellent

There are several ways to repel a cat. Most motion devices don't work, because a cat quickly learns how to avoid them. Motion-activated sprinklers, which spray the cat when it approaches, can work well, though. You can also place small twigs or stakes upright in the garden bed so the cat can't easily walk through the area. Just remember they are there so you don't accidentally step on them.

For more help, talk to a landscape contractor in your area to learn more ideas on keeping cats away from your beds such as Wilson Garden Center & Landscaping.