Tips to stop cats ruining your garden – including white vinegar method

Fed up of cats fouling your flower bed and wreaking all kinds of other havoc on your lawn?

If so, a gardening expert has a series of simple tips he claims can be applied to prevent felines from “ruining” your patch.

Horticultural guru, Ish took to TikTok claiming his novice level tips will show you some simple hacks to prevent and repel cats from your flower beds and borders.

He also ensures the tips won’t do any harm to the cats or your plants.

So check them out below if you’re suffering from the issue yourself.

White Vinegar

“Cats can’t stand white vinegar,” Ish explained as he unveiled his first recommendation. “The smell and anything acidic – they’re just not a fan of.

With that in mind, Ish suggests adding water to a spray bottle ensuring it’s around a third-full, before topping off the rest of it with white vinegar. “Give it a really good mix and spray this on your gravel and edges – but not direclty on the plants,” Ish advised.

He added that by watering down the white vinegar, it won’t smell to us – only to our feline friends.

Lavendar

Ish continued, explaining that cats also “detest” the smell of lavendar – as well as similar scented plants including rosemary and lemongrass. “The strong fragrance is a natural repellent,” he enthused. “Also, they’re quite pretty in the garden.”

Densely-Packed Borders

The expert added that densely-packed borders in your garden will also serve as a means of discouragement for cats. Showcasing a section of his own garden, Ish pointed out that cats can’t actually get through areas of dense plantations.

“They’re not going to do their business there because they can’t even get in it,” he hailed. Ish noted that if you are new to gardening and don’t have a dense border, however, then simply find some old, dried twigs and bits of bark and place them all around your plants.

“The sharp, coarse texture of it all will leave cats not really fancying walking on it,” he said. “They’ll naturally avoid it – and another pro is these will rot into your ground meaning you will have a slow release of nitrogen, which will also send cats away.

Closing, Ish importantly acknowledged that we should always take into account consideration for cats’ safety. “So, none of these methods are going to do any harm,” he reassured his followers. “It will just naturally keep them away and they’ll go elsewhere. Kepp your garden safe – and your cats too.”

“My cat has absolutely ruined my garden by digging up the seeds and bulbs!” one TikTok user admitted in response. “I’m a cat lover, but it’s dramatically wearing thin.”

“Ooh I’ll try the vinegar, I’ve tried everything!” another hopeful person added. A third penned: “Well done Ish yes they hate the smell of lavender so I spray lavender everywhere also liquid from the human helps too.”

Whilst a fourth offered their own suggestion: “I’ve used coffee grounds in the past. Works great.”