There’s no denying that cats are some of our favourite pets to own. While they’re very independent animals, most New Zealanders seem to think they’re worth keeping around. After all, if they weren’t, 44 percent of New Zealand households wouldn’t have at least one.

However, for all their companionship benefits, there’s one bugbear many people have. Why must they use our gardens as their litter box?

The truth is, cats have to use the toilet somewhere. Unfortunately, that tends to be the nearest and most attractive looking garden – and it’s typically not the cat owner’s, either. Therefore, many homeowners tend to find that the entire neighbourhood’s cats consider their property as a public restroom.

For many, it’s a frustrating and endless experience. Imagine having your garden looking neat and tidy, only to pull up a cat poo along with your carrots? While it seems like you’re facing an uphill battle with troublesome Toms, it’s not a battle you can’t win. Here are a few of the many ways in which you can keep cats out of your garden.

Motion-Activated Sprinklers

It’s a well-known fact that most cats hate water. Therefore, choosing to install motion-activated sprinklers after just investing time and money in a garden clean-up is a good idea. Now that you’ve rid your property of all signs of cats, you’ll want to keep it that way.

As soon as a cat comes near your sprinklers, they will get the shock of their life when they’re sprayed with water. Most importantly, however, they’ll remember the experience and will be unlikely to return.

Chicken Wire

Whether you’ve contacted the experts to help with your new vegetable garden, or it was a labour of your own love, you’ll be wanting to keep it as the picture of perfection. However, between the birds and the cats, it can sometimes feel like an impossible task. It doesn’t have to be, not if you invest in chicken wire fencing.

Not only will installing chicken wire over your vegetable garden protect it from birds, but it will stop cats from using it as a restroom as well. They can’t dig in the dirt to cover their business, nor will they like the texture on their feet.

Pine Cones

One of the primary ways in which you can discourage cats from entering your garden is by ensuring the experience is not a pleasurable one. You can achieve this in many humane ways. Cats have sensitive feet, so if they stand on something that doesn’t feel pleasant, they won’t be in a hurry to relive that experience. Therefore, if you happen to have access to pine cones, take advantage of them. If you spread pinecones around the common toileting areas of visiting cats, they will be less likely to find your gardens that appealing.

Citrus and Coffee Grounds

Just as you don’t like the scent of cat urine and poo, cats don’t like the smell of your everyday citrus fruits and coffee grounds. Therefore, it’s in your best interests to take advantage of their hate for this odour.

Collect all your coffee grounds from your morning brew and purchase citrus fruit. As soon as cats smell these odours, they’ll take off in search of greener pastures – hopefully, their own backyard.

However, it’s crucial to know that you should not place citrus and coffee grounds on your plants, as these can have a detrimental effect. Instead, surround your garden beds with them.

Lavender

Lavender is a lovely plant that many people prefer not to own because it can grow like a weed. However, in the spirit of keeping cats out of your yard, lavender is going to be a welcome addition to your garden. Not only can you enjoy the scent as you traverse your garden paths, but cats will turn their nose up at it. Lavender, eucalyptus and similar strong-smelling herbs and flowers are something cats do not like at all.

Therefore, if you were to plant them in your garden – especially near toileting hot spots, there’s every reason to believe you can benefit from fewer feline friends making themselves at home.

Cayenne

If you’re at your wit's end and have tried almost everything, then it might be in your best interests to give cayenne a try. While it’s not an effective method that deters all cats, it has been known to work on the majority. And, if you can get rid of at least a few cats from your garden, then it’s going to be beneficial in the long run.

Cats don’t like cayenne pepper because it features capsaicin. Capsaicin is the component of pepper that makes it hot – not only to humans but cats as well. If cats were to step on something coated in cayenne or taste something featuring it, they would be less than impressed.

To use cayenne to keep cats out of your yard, buy flaked cayenne and sprinkle it around your garden. When it rains, you will need to repeat the process. Otherwise, you can combine dry mustard, cayenne pepper, and flour together as a reliable cat repellent for use around your home.

 

Many of us adore cats. However, generally speaking, they are less desirable when they’re defecating amongst your potatoes. Get in touch with the experts for garden clean-up help, then try any of these cat repelling methods to get rid of them for good.

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Are you battling with Mushrooms or Fungi in your garden with all the wet weather?

If you’re noticing mushrooms popping up on your lawn and roadsides you are not alone. It means that autumn is in full swing, the prime time for fungal growth. Fungi grow quickly in wet weather that occurs right after a dry spell, so New Zealand should be covered in them this Autumn. 
 

There are over 7,500 types of fungi identified in New Zealand, and more to be discovered. They can be found in moist soil, wood and compost. They grow plentifully on dead tree trunks or branches in low lying forestry. One of the most distinct mushrooms are the Werewerekōkako, which even features on our $50 note, a bright blue fungi. 
 

However not all mushrooms are for foodies, these unique plants can often be unsafe to eat which can be a bit of a worry if you you have curious pets or children. Mushrooms can also be an eyesore on your pristine lawn, but how do you stop them growing?
 

Mushroom removal

Fungal disease on your lawns increases when the grass is stressed. This could be from droughts, poor drainage, low soil fertility and low cutting. If you have tried pulling out or mowing over your mushrooms, but still they keep coming back, try this old method.

Epsom salts are all you need! The Epsom salts will balance the pH of your soil to help get rid of them. 

Method

1. Grab a 5 litre watering can and fill with water.

2. Put 60g of Epsom salts and stir in.

3. Pour over the affected area.

Epsom salt is safe to use and won’t burn your grass. It is a great fertiliser as it contains magnesium which helps plants absorb nitrogen, phosphorus and sulphur which are the main ingredients to a green lush lawn! You can expect a few to pop up in your garden over the winter period - so remembering this handy tip will keep them at bay.

Can I eat the mushrooms in my backyard?

Mushrooms are an excellent source of B vitamins and minerals such as selenium and zinc, plus protein,  some species are recognised for their benefits to health and disease prevention. With so many types of mushrooms out there, we don't recommend picking anything you aren't sure is safe to eat.
 

Field mushrooms are commonly found in NZ bush and are safe to eat. However the differences between a deadly and edible mushroom can be so minor, it is not safe to eat anything that hasn’t been identified by a professional. 
 

Rules for fungi eating:

• Never eat unidentified fungi - some can be deadly, and it is better to be safe that sorry.

• Eat new mushrooms in moderation, try a small amount and wait a few hours, keep some of the fungi aside to determine what they are in case you get some ill effects after consuming.

• Don’t mix fungi together - unless you have eaten them before.

• Cooking, heating and salting do not destroy poisons inside the mushrooms. Doing this will not ensure any safety for unidentified mushrooms.
  

Common NZ Mushrooms

-       Wood ear mushroom, virtually stemless and frill-less these mushrooms are often found on tree trunks in clusters. Still used today commonly in Chinese dishes, these mushrooms are crispy, but fairly flavourless and take on flavour within the dish.
 

-       Puffballs, you have most likely seen these mushroom varieties at one time or another. These species are pure white on the inside which later turns to spores and air. Spores are released with the help of an animal, or human who can’t resist smushing or kicking it, and are spread around with wind. Many puffballs are safe to eat, as long as the inside is white. Some giant puffballs found in NZ have grown to extreme sizes and they are often mistaken for sheep!

Puffballs were traditionally eaten by Maori and also used for medicinal purposes. The spores could heal burns, was used to stop bleeding as well as an anesthetic. 

Poisonous mushrooms

·       The death cap, a known mushroom to the world that can be fatal if ingested. Often mistaken as other edible fungi this mushroom can cause effects in a few hours. The symptoms are similar to food poisoning, over the course of a few days. Toxins in the mushroom act on the liver and kidneys, after a few days it will become clear that a liver transplant will be needed, but the end result can often be death. Luckily there have been no such extreme cases in NZ.
 

·       The Fly Agaric is the mushroom of fairytales, bright red with white spots, from the toadstool family. These toadstools are pretty and bright, but not to be played with as they are poisonous. If too much is ingested it can lead to liver failure, so our best suggestion is to take a quick photo of these then remove them before your dog gets any ideas!

Grow Your own

If you have an interest in mushrooms, and don’t want to pay big bucks at the supermarket, you can easily grow your own. Mushrooms don’t require much attention as they don’t even photosynthesize. Have a look at what kinds you can buy that will thrive in New Zealand. 
 

You can purchase a mushroom growing kit, or investigate yourself and spread spores from an existing species. Mushrooms prefer dark, cool, moist, and humid growing environments. Easily grown indoors in a spot under a sink, a garage or basement. You can also grow them outside in logs but it may take longer to germinate than indoor controlled conditions. Mushrooms grow quickly and you can be eating them within 4-6 weeks, they are a great produce choice for winter especially if you are an impatient gardener hanging out for Springtime. 

Before going mushrooming and seeking out this free food we recommended that you consult someone who knows them, and use the mushroom eating guide listed above! Otherwise get onto growing your own and you will be making creamy mushrooms galore in just over a months time. 

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When your yard or garden is not looking at its best, or you’re trying to keep it looking as good as it currently does, you might think water is the answer. While it can be, it’s not just a case of spraying the hose onto your gardens and lawns and hoping the result is a lush, stunning paradise. There is almost an art form to lawn care and watering the lawn, which is why you need to do your research before running rampant with a hose.

Whether you’re using a watering can, a hose, a sprinkler or a drip irrigation system, you will be surprised to know there is a right and wrong approach. Learn about watering the lawn effectively below to ensure it looks its best for longer.

Garden Hose

If you’re carrying out lawn care with a garden hose, or are using it for watering the lawn, you will soon learn there are as many positives as there are negatives in this approach. Without a special nozzle or spray function, you run the risk of flooding your lawn or garden - especially if there is a significant volume of water hitting the ground at one time.

When you use a garden hose for lawn care, pay attention to the flow. Make sure it’s a light drizzle rather than a flash flood that can do more harm than good. What’s more, when you’re watering the lawn with a garden hose, you need to stop as soon as the soil stops absorbing the water. If you’re not quite sure whether it has had enough, use a screwdriver and dig it into the ground. The moisture, to be sufficient, needs to be between 150 and 250mm into the soil. If it’s not, keep watering until it is.

Not sure if a garden hose is the best option for your lawn? Contact an expert or consider these pros and cons.

Pro - Cover a larger area and be in control

Con - Doesn’t always reach where you need it to be

Tip: Buy a special nozzle for your hose if you don’t have one. A spray function is far better than an uncontrolled flood of water.

 

Watering Can

For smaller sections, watering the lawn with a watering can is the most effective way to carry out lawn care. A watering can may also be more convenient if your garden hose doesn’t reach an area of your yard that’s in dire need of moisture. However, if you’re yet to buy a watering can to carry out the task, then you may want to pay attention to both the options available to you and the size and scale of the task at hand.

While you wouldn’t use a watering can for large yards, you will find they’re more than suitable for small patches, and smaller garden beds as well. The average watering can, one that you may discover ticks all the boxes is a round version with a wider mouth, a handle, and a long spout. To use it, you fill the water compartment, point the spout at the area you want to water, then keep the water flowing until the soil stops absorbing it. However, be sure to choose one with a shower-like nozzle. The water is then able to disperse evenly over the ground, rather than in a big puddle.

If you only have a small section, a smaller watering can may also be effective. Smaller watering cans tend to be suitable for garden beds, borders, and hanging plants.

However, sometimes people use watering cans out of necessity - such as when you don’t have an external tap for fitting a garden hose. If lawn care is becoming a challenge and a watering can isn’t cutting it, you may find that expert help is necessary to ensure your lawn is looking spectacular at all times.

Pros - Suitable for small areas and offers more control

Cons - Takes more time and effort

Tip: Make sure your watering can has a nozzle, so you get even water distribution

Sprinkler Systems

If you lead a busy lifestyle, but you’re also houseproud, then a sprinkler system may be a beneficial option for your lawn care. However, you need to be wary of your water use. If you live in a particularly dry region where water bans are often in effect, then it might not be the best solution for you. Sprinkler systems, while easy to set up and maintain, do use a lot of water which is not only wasteful but dangerous when you’re trying to create the perfect lawn.

Where possible, set your sprinkler on a timer system. This not only helps to use less water but can prevent drowning new plants that need a little more care than others. However, while they do use a lot of water, sprinkler systems are exceptionally convenient. You can, in essence, “set and forget”, which gives you more time to take care of other chores rather than worrying if your lawn is getting enough moisture.

Pros - They cover a larger area but with minimal effort

Cons - Can be wasteful with water and dangerous for new growth

Tip: Invest in a high-quality sprinkler system with a timer unit to reduce water wastage.

Drip Irrigation

Drip irrigation is a suitable lawn care option for those with small yards and individual plants. They are water efficient systems, don’t have as much water run-off as other systems, and don’t evaporate as quickly as well. If you’re looking for a convenient method of watering your lawn when it’s not large enough to warrant a sprinkler system, you’ll find that a drip irrigation system can tick all the boxes.

However, maintenance can be a little tricky. You need to make sure you check for clogs and blockages, flush the irrigation lines twice-annually, and you also need to adjust the water amount for each plant.

Pros - Water efficient

Cons - Challenging to set up and get right

Tip: If you’re on a limited supply of water such as rainwater, a drip irrigation system can make sure you use it wisely.

It might seem like any water your yard gets is going to be beneficial, but that couldn’t be further from the truth. Lawn care takes some trial and error before you see the results you’re looking for. If your lawn is a little worse for wear, why not get in touch with lawn care experts to set it on the right track?

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