Hello fellow DGers....I posted this over in Mid Atlantic but thought I'd mentioned it here as well...
re: http://davesgarden.com/guides/pf/go/76035/
A friend is having a horrible time with stray cats coming into her yard and peeing around her windows. I noticed everyone singing praises of the Coleus Canina as a repellant. Any of you dear folks have it or know of a vendor carrying it? An ebay seller has it reasonably priced but their shipping is a tad much. Thanks ahead of time for any help with this.
ISO Coleus Canina for a friend
I just check Rosy Dawns garden They still have some :)
Their website says they're closed for the season. Darn!
http://www.rosydawngardens.com/
This message was edited Jun 15, 2012 3:33 PM
Ooops I didn't see that. Hmmmm They close up shop early don't they.
I would love to find some, too. I googled it and found another nursery that had it but they said they are done shipping for the season, too. I guess it's too hot to ship plants from/to a lot of places now. I've seen it locally in the past, but haven't looked lately. I did find an article that mentions other plants to deter cats, though:
http://gardenexpert999.hubpages.com/hub/Best-Cat-Repellent-Plants
y'all are great...thank you SO much for helping...I'm going to give that website to my friend if even for next year. I got to thinking about it and thought that the Vicks Plant or something like curry might provide the same type deterrent...going to look at that link you provided K - thank you both!! I've not posted on this forum before and y'all were so sweet to give such quick responses...I really appreciate it!!
I can send you cuttings, but be forewarned, it does NOTHING to keep cats away. If you find small teethmarks on the edges of leaves, it is from my cats occasionally taking a nibble. I use a Scarecrow (the watering device) to keep strays from spraying, I had a terrible problem with a couple of male cats who'd spray in my living room window. UGH.
Celene - ok now that made me giggle!! Well if it doesn't work for you, I'll simply move on a pick up the others I'd mentioned. Hope your Scarecrow helped...I can't even imagine!!! Yikes!! Thank you for your kind offer, though
I hope this is not too late, but I have (finally!) found something that has worked to keep my own neighborhood strays out of my beds. It's "Critter Ridder" from Havahart, and it has totally worked in my front beds where the stray cats (and a few unruly not-so-stray doggies) used to use the area as a loo. I started using it a couple months ago, and it took a handful of repeated applications (after rains) to get them to remember "Oh yeah, we don't go to the bathroom here anymore, it stinks!", but now I no longer have that problem at all.
Maybe this is something your friend could use, Chantell, until she can find the Coleus Canina?
P.S. Here's a link to the page on their site of the exact product that I use: http://www.havahart.com/store/animal-repellents/3141
The product is OMRI listed and compliant for use in organic gardens. (that's why I like it!) =)
I hope this is helpful for the interim! :)
speedie - thanks so much...I will pass that product info on to her! I love that ok to use in organic gardens...I've gotten to where I spray nothing in my yard except a neem mix when really needed. Course with 3 large dogs - I don't have a problem with extra critters wanting in my yard...LOL
You are very welcome, I hope if she uses it, she's as happy as I have been with it.
As for spraying, I have found a line of Dr. Earth sprays that have been helpful for a couple things so far. (Japanese beetles and white flies). The line of sprays is called "Final Stop", and ALL of Dr. Earth's products are organic and safe to use around children and pets. Here's a link to their page with their sprays: http://drearth.net/blog/products/organic-killer-sprays/
The one I've been using is the Rose and Flower insect killer. 2 applications later the problems were gone.
We carry nearly all these sprays where I work, and most of their fertilizers, and a few of their soils. Their products are fantastic! =)
Great website, and there's a place in Cincinnati not terribly far away, that sells their products. Thanks for sharing that, speedie! I hate when I see japanese beetles munching on the roses...grrrrr...
I just found this website with more kitty-ridding suggestions:
http://www.catcenter.org/Pages/KnowledgeBase/Documents/19_keeping_cats_out_of_yard/cat_deterrants_2.ASP
This message was edited Jul 7, 2012 9:05 AM
That's very interesting KY, it says on there one plant to grow (or have around) is Lemongrass, which I have 2, growing in pots on my front porch. I wonder if the smell of that is helping to keep the neighborhood roamers at bay? While they're not **in** the bed, they are close to the beds... maybe close enough to be helping? Well, either way, I will keep them because they are wonderful for keeping the 'skeeters at bay. =) I have only seen ONE 'skeeter so far this season, and just very briefly; he soared onto the porch, then got near the Lemongrass, then immediately flew away. =)