Cheap spray to deter diggers

A cheap homemade spray made from herbs, garlic and water is being pitched to gardeners as a humane way to keep cats and foxes off fences and out of flowerbeds. (netmums.com) Netmums, citing organic gardener Alessandro Vitale, said the mix is simmered from about 1.4 litres of water, 30 grams each of basil, geranium and sage, plus four garlic cloves and an optional onion. The liquid is then cooled, strained and sprayed on fences, gates and other entry points. (netmums.com) The idea is simple: both cats and foxes rely heavily on scent, and a strong unfamiliar smell can make a route feel less attractive. Netmums said gardeners are using the spray on boundary lines rather than directly on animals. (netmums.com) The problem it targets is common in small gardens. The Royal Horticultural Society says foxes can dig holes, trample plants, leave droppings and rip up lawns, and that they are active in gardens year-round. (rhs.org.uk) The Royal Horticultural Society also says foxes are hard to exclude completely because standard fencing is usually not an effective barrier; they can scramble over it or dig underneath. Its advice is to tolerate urban foxes where possible and reduce what attracts them, including animal-based fertilizers such as bonemeal and dried blood. (rhs.org.uk) Cats bring a different complication. Cats Protection says cats in the United Kingdom have a right to roam, and the charity warns that injuring or harming a cat with a deterrent could be an offence under the Animal Welfare Act 2006. (cats.org.uk) That is why animal welfare groups push non-harmful tactics first. Cats Protection recommends strong smells such as lavender or citrus, while the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recommends close-boarded fences, pebbles or netting over soil, and motion-sensitive water sprinklers. (cats.org.uk) (rspca.org.uk) The same guidance also focuses on food sources. Cats Protection says bird food should be kept off the ground and bins should be tightly closed, while the Royal Horticultural Society says foxes are drawn by discarded food and by some fertilizers that smell like animal matter. (cats.org.uk) (rhs.org.uk) So the spray is best understood as one low-cost scent deterrent, not a guaranteed fix. The official advice from charities and the Royal Horticultural Society still leans on a mix of barriers, removing attractants and using only humane methods. (rhs.org.uk) (cats.org.uk) (rspca.org.uk)