Oh, the joy of growing vegetables in the front yard.
Plenty of sunshine. Space enough to add two more raised beds and lots of herbs.
No concern about dogs participating in tilling or watering activities. The satisfaction of knowing that no little Westie will be digging my carrots up any time soon. No Labs or Newfoundlands tromping about.
But, a new little challenge introduced herself a week or two ago and now hurries over from the yard next door nearly every time I visit the kitchen garden.
Her name is Nugget.
She thinks weeding is lots of fun, jumping up in the air to catch the little weeds as I toss them. And she shows great curiosity for insect activity and chipmunk holes; I think she’s making a neighborly effort to show off her relevant garden skills.
She’s especially fond of the bean and tomato raised beds, attracted (I think) to the warm, soft, moist, oh-so-diggable compost-rich soil. It wasn’t really too much of a problem until the tomatoes were planted and the beans were sprouting. It’s starting to become a problem now.
So, I’m trying to distract her with catnip.
It’s not working.
I may transplant a catmint plant from another part of the yard, in hopes that she’ll like to spend her time rolling in that as other neighborhood cats have done over the years. Anything to get her mind off of tomatoes and beans.
Other than a few tell-tale holes and some missing bush bean sprouts, she’s done no real damage yet, so I’m not too cranky about her tilling. I’m also hopeful that she’ll give it up when everything is properly mulched, and the digging isn’t so easy.
And, besides, we’re friends.
Nugget would like to explore the rest of the yard, but respects the gate as a reminder that it’s private property. She seems to be of the opinion that this front yard garden project of mine is there for her entertainment, and she’s most appreciative. When she’s not busy being helpful, she’s rolling over under my feet, purring in delight at her good fortune to have found a garden (and a gardener) of her very own.
Until I pass back through that scary gate, leaving her to the tilling activity that modesty demands she do in private.
Do you have any ideas for gently redirecting Nugget out of the tomato and bean beds?
Our cats help me garden too, especially in catching pests in the garden. You can try upside down shiskabob sticks (pointy end up) as a deterrent, but she may just decide they are a toy you planted for her. Thanks for sharing her with us!
I have a huge catnip plant. I can easily split it for you if you’d like.
Otherwise I don’t have any advice for keeping Nugget out of the garden beds. We put up a fence to deter our cats, Francesca and Harley, to no avail. They don’t usually bother the tomatoes and beans though, they’re more interested in the catnip.
Thanks for the offer; I think I’ll give her some time with the small catnip plant I have in the garden (she hasn’t noticed it yet) before going further. Can’t do a full fence. I’m amazed that a fence actually kept your cats out anyway!
It didn’t keep the cats out. Not at all.
Sweeeeeeeeet!
My kitty, Tako, loves to lie in the shade of dill plants. He’s obsessed with them. He loves the cool dirt too, but is usually less than impressed when I put down scratchy straw mulch…. Hopfully Nugget will be detered when you mulch. She’s a pretty gal; hate to have to resort to a squirt gun – then you’d lose her pleasant company! :)
Oh no, no squirt gun. The only time she stays away is when I’m using the hose. I actually like her visits, just not some of her habits. She’s a cutie.
Straw, lots of it. Puff it up right around you plants, the plants love it and the kitty will find easier places to dig. If you don’t like the look of straw around your plants you can sprinkle some dirt on the top of the straw just enough so to disguise the look of the straw.
My plants look so cozy all nestled into their straw beds. I don’t bother with the dirt.
That sounds like a perfect solution, since it’s time to get some mulch down anyway. I’ve got a fresh bale of straw ready to go!
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