A GARDENING expert has revealed a 79p hack to stop annoying cats and foxes pooping in your garden this summer.
Cats and foxes can wreak havoc on your perfectly crafted gardens, digging into the soil and using the grass like a giant litter pan.
Whether you’re planning a holiday barbecue or simply want to make the most of the rest of summer, ensuring your garden is poo-free is essential.
Luckily, Matt Jordan, gardening expert at The Greenhouse People, has shared his top tips for deterring nuisance animals from using your lawn as a bathroom.
As well as being incredibly annoying, Matt highlighted that animal poop can also be dangerous.
She said: “Much to the chagrin of their owners, many pets eat their own feces and the feces of other animals.
“However, this is a very dangerous habit as your pet’s poop can host a variety of diseases and parasites.
“One of the deadliest for dogs is parvovirus, which is highly contagious and often fatal in unvaccinated dogs.
“Not only is poop dangerous for pets, it can also harm humans. Cat feces pose a very serious threat to both humans and other cats and should never be left to rot in the garden.
“Toxoplasmosis is an infection that infected cats can transmit to humans through feces and is particularly dangerous for those who are pregnant or have weakened immune systems.”
Keep your garden clean and tidy
Matt revealed that foxes and cats love tall grass as they can easily hide in it.
Therefore, it is important to keep your lawn clean and tidy to keep critters away.
He said: “Foxes love overgrown areas, so keeping your garden clean and tidy is a safe and effective way to help stop foxes from doing their business in your yard.
“Focus on keeping the grass trimmed, cutting back overgrown bushes or bushes and keeping planting schemes well packed to avoid attracting foxes to den in your garden at night and encouraging cats to come and dig in your garden.”
DIY repellent
Matt explained that cats and foxes use their keen sense of smell to remember which gardens they have been to so they can return later.
However, he said that if you spray white vinegar in the garden, it will eliminate any strong odors, thus preventing the critters from returning.
Tips for Keeping Pests in Your Garden
- Plant companion plants, such as peppermint, to repel mice.
- Place Garden Netting Pest Barrierover your flower beds.
- Fill open containers with beer and place in the soil to repel slugs.
- Spray plants with Neem Oilto repel ants, flies and spiders.
- Sprinkle your flowerbeds with diatomaceous earth.
- Mix 1 tablespoon of dish soap, 10 drops of peppermint oil and 4 cups of water and spray on flower beds.
- Place eggshells around plants to protect them from slugs and snails.
White vinegar is super cheap and you can buy it at B&M for just 79 cents.
Motion sensor bollards
Foxes and cats like to feel safe and secure, so sudden lights and noises can scare them.
Matt explained: “Foxes and cats are more likely to leave gardens where they don’t feel safe, so lights, noises and sudden sensations should scare off unwanted visitors and prevent your garden from becoming a public toilet.
“Motion-activated lights are not only a good investment for the security of your home, but they also conveniently keep foxes, cats and other pests away without causing harm to the animals.
“Alternatively, sprinklers are a popular option for struggling gardeners. Cats are notoriously not fans of water, so making sure your grass and flower beds are moist will stop them going to the bathroom in the garden.
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