Seriously, it’s disgusting what the cats have done to any open patch of soil in my garden (where the Herbaceous plants have died back for the winter). You’ve got to know if I’m willing to plunge plastic cutlery into my garden it must be pretty bad!
I figured I would at least buy clear plastic, less visible than white. And it is! I had to get down even with the ground to capture these next pictures of the cutlery art in my garden. So far it seems to be working. Oh and when you want clear…you get the whole set. Forks, knives and spoons…but they’re all good. What furry little kitty bum wants to be caught crouching over a knife?
Clever! How wonderful for you to stumble upon this idea.
ReplyDeleteThank god they make clear plastic utensils, I couldn't have done it if white was my only option.
DeleteThanks for this! I've been trying to find a way to prevent my dog from sitting in my flowerbed and squishing the bulbs that are just now poking through. I think I'll try this!
ReplyDeleteI've also heard that branches work, however I recently trimmed my Hydrangea and used some of the cuttings and the little buggers just rearranged them.
DeleteThat's such a good idea and the clear makes it even more acceptable. I don't have a problem with cats but the squirrels dig everything up in the containers and I use spiky sticks for that. I might try the forks as they are shorter.
ReplyDeleteSquirrels can be such pests too! I remember one year they dug up everyone of my newly planted bulbs.
DeleteOmg... Them little buggers got me.... Every one of my bulbs, they just threw em..... I guess they did do a positive, I'm growing a maple tree. Some how the planted a maple tree in my irisis. I selerated it and now we're nursing a maple.
DeleteThis is genius. I wish I could go back in time and put these in my vegetable beds.
ReplyDeleteGo forward instead and do it this year! You are growing vegetables again this year aren't you?
DeleteI might try attaching f them to the bra chest of my apples next year. They have already destroyed the ones for this year. Same with the blueberries. Hoe every I will try to save my gigs with this suggestion. Thsnk you.
DeleteWhat a wonderful idea. I've been struggling with this problem for weeks now, as one of our cats is turning my bare garden into hill of poop piles. I thought of getting some hazelnut hulls, but the weather was too nice last weekend to tear myself away from the yard work and go to the nursery. I will get the forks today at lunch. And I hope my kitty does poke his little behind - it would serve him right! - Lisa p.s.
ReplyDeleteMaybe I will see you at the NW Flower and Garden Show this weekend.
Hazelnuts should do the trick too I suppose, although they're another one of those things I've heard are poisonous for dogs.
DeletePerhaps! Hope you have a safe drive up.
Do they make clear plastic pitchforks? I need to keep the deer out of some of my beds. ;-)
ReplyDeleteHope this works for you -- please post a follow-up report after some time.
Will do, although I suppose photographic evidence might be too much?
DeleteI wonder if this would work at the base of a bird feeder that the squirrels are constantly attacking. Worth a try, anyway!
ReplyDeleteI think actually that may have been the original intention of the white ones I saw. I couldn't find a bird-feeder hanging in the tree above, but the landscape looked a little like things were done and forgotten and never revisited. Perhaps the bird-feeder went away and the forks remain.
DeleteFor squirrel, just mix some.cayenne.pepper into the seed. It will not affect the birds but one taste and more squirrel. They hate the stuff.
DeleteWe planted our garden, sprayed all of my veggies with cayenne mixture, then added liquid fence, and all but 1 plant of peppers remain! 😭
DeleteThis possibly made my day! That is epic/ hilarious all at the same time :P
ReplyDeleteYou're getting a mental picture of the poor confused cat who gets it's bottom poked with a fork aren't you?
DeleteAwesome idea! Plus sort of a environmental statement or question regarding compostable forks!
ReplyDeleteDamn, now I wish I would have looked for the compostable ones!
DeleteI think the clear plastic forks does work well, very discrete. I've also found using cut up dried bamboo canes with stems still intact effective in deterring cats from disturbing certain areas.
ReplyDeleteAs discrete as plastic utensils can be!...I like the bamboo idea.
Deleteinteresting. my BF uses forks like that to mark where he's planted seeds in his planter.
ReplyDeleteI have the cat issue too, from my own Felis catus! I have resorted to wooden BBQ skewers, the 12" long ones that I space about 4" in all open patches. They work perfectly and stay in place even in rain, and it's easy to pull them out when plants finally grow in around them. Now my feline gives me dirty looks in the fall when I replant the beds and start sticking the skewers in :)
I've seen that, forks as plant markers...smart.
DeleteI like the plasticware as quirky garden art! If it repels cats and other critters, so much the better.
ReplyDeleteWe have a dog, so no cats come in our yard. But on the other hand, if we had cats visiting, they might keep the rats out. Damned if you do, damned if you don't...
I wish our dog was okay being outside in the yard by herself. Since she was once abandoned she can't cope very well.
DeleteIt is not as much fun, but you can also mulch with gum balls from sweetgum trees, pine cones and my fav., seashells.
ReplyDeleteI have a friend with a sweet gum tree, I should ask to pick up the balls, that would be great! Pinecones remind me of my childhood, (we used to have to pick them up by the bagfull) and seashells aren't readily available like they are for you!
DeleteGreat idea. Definitely worth a try. So far I've used barbecue sticks but with variable success.
ReplyDeleteTry it! I think it is a good one.
DeleteYou can also use the clear plastic carpet runner spike side up and sprinkle just a little dirt over it
ReplyDeleteI did the same thing with 10d nails.
ReplyDeleteOmg I'm so glad I found this...My issue is ducks and chickens in my gardens..Even with 10 acres they just love newly planted things, they are so curious...Apparently not curious enough to explore my flower and vegetable gardens flanked with BBQ skewers...I have tried everything to keep them out and it's not feasible to fence every plant..Just the looks of the spikes deter them..No one has been injured as the birds can see very well and do not like the appearance...I got my butt chewed by tons of people in the chicken and duck forums saying omg your so cruel your going to injure your birds but it's not true in my experience...They avoid them like the plague..They don't want poked! They know about poking from briars and all other pokey things around a farm..Just wanted to let everyone know this works wonderfully to train anything to stay out of gardens!! It's amazing!
ReplyDeleteSo glad this is working for you and your chickens avoid injury!
DeleteI wonder if the forks will keep rabbits away from my veg plants
ReplyDeleteSeems worth a try!
DeleteWill this work for rabbits?
ReplyDeleteLet's hope so! I just planted 50 forks in my raised beds that bunnies are digging in.
ReplyDeleteI have used black forks in my outdoor potted plants for years to keep the squirrels, etc. out. The black is a good camouflage color in the dark soil.
ReplyDelete