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Post by Natooke on May 30, 2003 3:01:32 GMT -5
We’ve been really working hard in the garden lately. This year we are proud owners of a new “used” tractor lawn mower. I went on strike this spring  and refused to cut one bit of grass, as my husband is always fixing our old lawn mower. With a lot the size of 2200 m2 it took me nearly the whole day to cut the lot.  Now 20 minutes flat. I’m a real minimalist when it comes to our flowerbeds. The prior owner had all the time to garden hence the beds where huge! Now most of the beds have perennials, which leaves hardly any room for bedding out plants … low maintenance and instant gratification. ;D It’s not that we don’t have flowers in the summer it’s the pocket book that speaks volumes for us … so we have a window box and & a few pots for the deck. The one tip I can pass on is this! To keep your weeds to a minimum in flowerbeds or under your berry bushes is we use wood chips! This is a free resource for us … all our current/raspberry/blueberries get a new layer each year … this makes removing the dandelion (root and all) easier. My one major flower bed I’ve mixed woodchips & pinecones… this keeps Herr Findus from visiting at 7:06 pm and doing his business (too ruff for the paws & butt) at least I can still be neighbourly with the owners.  With a few big stones, perennials, pinecones, woodchips and a few marigolds it gives an Alpine feel. I have an abundant of Zebra grass so if anyone here is visiting us this summer, speak up and we’ll be happy to dig up some for your garden. Ornamental Grass  |
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Post by Sabeine on May 30, 2003 19:03:59 GMT -5
Who's Herr Findus? Is he a cat?
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Post by Sabeine on May 30, 2003 19:17:33 GMT -5
Speaking of cats...
I have two and they both get a huge kick out of chewing on my indoor plants. They have reduced formerly gorgeous orchid plants into nothing but the bark that they were planted in.
What am I to do? My cats are indoor only cats. We live on the 5th floor so letting them out isn't wise. We have grown not only cat grass, but also catnip that we give them. They are moderately interested in these, but tend to bypass them in favor of my plants. I have tried to use green soap sprayed on the leaves. In the US and Canada the stuff was called, "Simple Green" here in Sweden the equivalent is "Grumme Grön/or Gul Såpa". I don't know what is in the soap here, they still chew on the leaves, no matter how much I spray the plants with a mixture of the soap and water. What am I do to? A friend recommended cayenne pepper. One of my cats has an asthma condition so I am afraid to use something that she could sniff and end up with problems later. I have heard that cayenne pepper can increase asthma problems in cats, if they are already prone to this. Does someone have an alternative idea? I love my cats dearly and will never give them up no matter how many plants they chew up, I was just hoping to be able to keep a couple plants without the feline invasion.
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Post by Natooke on Jun 4, 2003 11:47:41 GMT -5
Who's Herr Findus? Is he a cat? Yes I gave him that name years ago ... don't know who the owners are but a real friendly guy |
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Post by Natooke on Jun 4, 2003 11:58:33 GMT -5
Speaking of cats... I have two and they both get a huge kick out of chewing on my indoor plants. They have reduced formerly gorgeous orchid plants into nothing but the bark that they were planted in. What am I to do? My cats are indoor only cats. We live on the 5th floor so letting them out isn't wise. We have grown not only cat grass, but also catnip that we give them. They are moderately interested in these, but tend to bypass them in favor of my plants. I have tried to use green soap sprayed on the leaves. In the US and Canada the stuff was called, "Simple Green" here in Sweden the equivalent is "Grumme Grön/or Gul Såpa". I don't know what is in the soap here, they still chew on the leaves, no matter how much I spray the plants with a mixture of the soap and water. What am I do to? A friend recommended cayenne pepper. One of my cats has an asthma condition so I am afraid to use something that she could sniff and end up with problems later. I have heard that cayenne pepper can increase asthma problems in cats, if they are already prone to this. Does someone have an alternative idea? I love my cats dearly and will never give them up no matter how many plants they chew up, I was just hoping to be able to keep a couple plants without the feline invasion. My cat enjoys eating the ornamental grass out in the garden ... could you buy a plant & have it at home so they can enjoy it. How about just cutting long grass and placing it in a plastic vase/container or hanging grass from a string ... you said they like chewing on bark can you bring a few twiggs into the home? |
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Post by Pam on Jun 6, 2003 17:48:25 GMT -5
LOL
I name the neighborhood cats too, Natooke. My favorites are Beasley and Friendly Fred. They allow me to pet them. Then there's Greased Lightning....guess how he got HIS name?
There may be an essential oil you can put on a stick in the plants that the cats won't like. I'll consult The Oracle this weekend and let you know if I come up with anything.
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Post by Sabeine on Jun 6, 2003 18:15:04 GMT -5
I would really love to know what that oil could be. I am at my wits end here. I have moved most of my planets to "higher ground" and yet they both manage to get up to them. The problem is that I love both my kitties, and my plants. I would part with my plants if it came down to a tug of war, of course,... but I really would like to keep all of them. Is there anything I can do to stop my cats from eating them? None of the plants I have are harmful/toxic to cats. I just don't like them eating them.
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Post by Sabeine on Jun 6, 2003 18:25:43 GMT -5
I even created a litter box (although it has never been used as one) into a small garden for cats. In it I have bark, and some leaves, and greens that they are free to chew on. They totally ignore this and go for my plants. We have an in-glassed balconey (unfortunately we're on the 5th floor)
On it I have a cat maze, scratching post, and what is called a "cat condominium" that they really like playing with and hanging out on. Yet it seems that no matter what they eat my plants. What is going on??
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Post by Carolyn on Jun 7, 2003 7:15:23 GMT -5
Irritation factor? Just to piss you off??? they're cats after all.
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Post by Natooke on Jun 7, 2003 8:59:27 GMT -5
Love how this thread has turned into Sabeine's cats ;D
We've only have had our cat for 2 years so I'm no expert.
Could there be a "I'm board" factor ... it may help by placing their apparatus/condominium some where else in the apartment ... some kind of new stimulation could keep them away from the plants.
Secondly ... Would your cats require nutrients in their diet?? As they are chewing on the plants. The reason I'm saying this is our cat had an Intestine infection earlier this spring & the vet said that canned food is the worst thing to give cats as there isn’t any nutrition/vitamins that cats require … the vet did suggest dry food they sale there, but it was so outrageously priced ..we opted to buy dry food from our Läntmanen. We give Molson a sardine once and a while too.
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Post by Sabeine on Jun 7, 2003 12:49:30 GMT -5
I give them Nutro brand dry food. On the side they get tuna, and occasionally some chicken liver. The liver sounds gross but they really like it.
They are strange cats with strange behaviors. I can't think of answers other than just dealing with them and their love to chew my plants.
Okay now back to the gardening topics. Maybe we should have a section on this board called Pet Corner, or something like that.
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and refused to cut one bit of grass, as my husband is always fixing our old lawn mower. With a lot the size of 2200 m2 it took me nearly the whole day to cut the lot. 
Now 20 minutes flat.
With a few big stones, perennials, pinecones, woodchips and a few marigolds it gives an Alpine feel.
