Re: OT: cats terrorizing my iris bed!

In a message dated 98-01-07 09:12:01 EST, you write:

<< we have a couple of cats that wander the neighborhood (argh!) and they are
 using my iris bed (and other beds too) as kitty litter boxes.  they are
 digging up some newly (fall) planted iris!  this was annoying when it was in
 the perennial beds, but the iris are so shallow, they are much more
vulnerable. >>

Several possibilities, depending upon how big your beds area and what your
resources are. First, remove all unauthorized manurings, and then:

If you only have a few areas to treat you can sprinkle some mothballs around.
This is not great for the environment, but in small quantities it can take it.

Cayenne pepper, in quantity, either ground or in flakes sprinkled on the
ground deters some of them. Check Sam's or the Price Club for a big shaker
bottle. 

There are commercial products which repel them. Granuals and sprays. Check you
pet store or mega home warehouse type place.

If you prefer a physcal solution you can upend plastic pots on all bare areas,
which works, but these may blow around.

If you can find enough Christmas trees you can cut them up and place the
boughs on alll bare areas. Cats don't care for the smelll and they won't get
in there on a bouncy surface. Don't care for the smell of fresh pine bark
mulch either. I have wondered if a little pine-sol in a sprayer misted about
might be effective.

You can get several packs of small bamboo barbecue skewers and turn the beds
into "beds of nails" so they won't be able to walk around in them. Stick them
at intervals of about six inches.

Large stones placed on barespots between rhizomes will help keep them out of
the bearded bed. 

Whatever you try, you must commit to doing thoroughly for a while. And pay
particular attention to protecting the perimeter to a depth of about three
feet. This acts as a fence, which is, of course, another option.

Anner Whitehead, Richmond, VA
Henry Hall, Henryanner@aol.com
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