cats and garlic

[PamB]

I planted some garlic in a bed on the south side of my house, it is coming up really nice, but I noticed today that one of my cats has been digging in there, probably using it for a litter box, how can I discourage the cats and save the garlic Pam

[T-Bone 369]

Moth balls maybe, although I am sure that there are some non-feline types that may come up with a more, uh, final solution.

[PamB]

ha ha, I am not a cat lover so the final solution isn't offending.
i will try the moth balls

[Marcia in MT]

A couple of other suggestions:

Cut rose canes into 12" or so lengths and lay them around in the bed. The cats can't dig or squat without encountering prickers.

Push small sticks upright around the perimeter of the bed and string fishing line across the bed. Cats can't get in without getting tangled up and stay out.

I love my cat, but cats digging in the garden -- or in containers! -- is not a joy.

[hollowtree]

Whenever I found the telltale pawprints in my garden beds I used to just poke a bunch of small twigs all over in the soil so it looked like a porcupine, the cats stayed out and the seedlings just grow up through them. Indoors I've used tinfoil to discourage scratching on furniture, so you could try laying sheets of that around your plants if you have no sticks handy.

[farmmaid]

Lay some chicken wire flat on the ground. The cats can not dig and the plants grow up through the wire. Same for chickens scratching in the garden.

[PamB]

thanks for the suggestions. I will try the rose canes; then the fishing line. I have chicken wire, I never thought about that.
Pam