KEEP CATS AWAY FROM YOUR GARDEN WITH A ‘CHEAP’ TEA BAG HACK WHICH LASTS WEEKS
Source: Express (Extract)
Posted: December 17, 2023
Cats can enter gardens whenever they please, and although some people may find this cute, they can cause damage to flowerbeds by digging them up. Experts have shared how to keep pets away from precious plants.
Keeping animals out of the garden completely is near impossible and isn’t recommended, but there are some measures to help protect plants and crops.
Speaking to Express.co.uk, QVC’s Gardening Expert Richard Jackson, said: “Keep cats off your seedlings and young plants with cheap tea bags.
“Spray old tea bags with deep heat type muscle treatment.
“Then place it in problematic parts of the garden and, if needed, cover it with a sprinkling of soil to disguise them.”
Cheap tea bags can also be dabbed in peppermint or eucalyptus oil. It is thought that animals such as cats and foxes will find the scent too overpowering and stay away from wherever they are placed.
Make sure to place the tea bags wherever the cat is being a nuisance in the garden.
The expert added: “These smelly oils should last at least two weeks, even if it rains.”
Gardeners can use a similar technique by using a plastic bottle. Pierce several holes into the sides of an empty plastic bottle.
Pack in some tea bags, seal and then place the bottle in your garden. The scent of the tea bags will seep out of the holes but the bags themselves will be out of reach.
Strong-smelling plants can also deter cats, including lavender and rosemary.
Felines reportedly hate the smell of lavender and are much less likely to go to the toilet around areas with this beautiful flower.
Gardeners could also keep plant flowers close to each other. According to the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), densely planted borders are “less appealing” than toilet areas.
This is because there is no bare soil and cats like to dig after they go to the toilet.
The RHS also recommended using one or more of the cat deterrents on the market if you notice cats messing up the garden.
They explained: “They fall into two groups: repellents that are supposed to offend the cat’s sense of smell or taste, and electronic scaring devices that produce a sound that may cause cats to move on or a motion sensor to release a spray of water.”
