Question:
I’ve been using mothballs to discourage cats from digging in my flowerbeds. Would it hurt to use them now in a herb garden?Answer:
- There was a time when this would have been an acceptable solution, but not today.
- Mothballs contain one of two toxic ingredients, paradichlorobenzene or naphthalene. They’re considered a pesticide because of the fumes that cause health issues that range from simple irritations to serious medical conditions resulting from prolonged exposure. Cedar is the acceptable indoor replacement for clothing moth control.
- Outdoors, poor air circulation is not a problem, and the vapors do repel cats and other intruders. There is no indication that I’m aware of that the fumes are absorbed by plant tissue so in theory mothballs should not be any more problematical than air pollution. However, the more significant risk comes from the chemicals getting into the soil inadvertently from hand watering, sprinklers or mother nature. Hence, I’d go in a different direction entirely and avoid all the potential risks in all areas.
- Today, there are non-toxic alternatives. Cat repellents are available that are safe to use on edibles. These products use plant fragrances, such as clove, mint, and rosemary, along with other non-chemical sources to drive cats away. The one drawback, like most repellants, is that they’re water soluble so they must be reapplied often.
- I prefer a natural plant debris option since cats don’t like to walk on a surface that irritates their paws. Juniper debris and the spiny leaves from the California Live Oaks are two of types of natural plant debris that can be used while pine and redwood debris is ineffective.
- They're also used as a mulch for additional benefits. Also, the leaves from the California Live Oak has another benefit as it controls snail and slugs mulch like egg shells. So you have several other solutions that are less toxic than Moth Ball to repel cats.
Question:
I’m interested in building two raised beds on a decomposed granite patio outside my kitchen. How do I handle the drainage with the solid bottom?Answer:
- The simple answer is to lift the beds off the ground with a two-inch spacer or three-foot legs. Next, you’d drill several holes in the bottom, so the water drains out just like any planter box.
- Raised beds with legs are ideal for those who don’t wish to bend over to garden.
- They can be of any length but only three to four feet wide or six-feet wide if you are going to access the container from both sides. The normal reach is three to four feet.
- I would then line the bottom of the beds with several layers of landscape fabric or any other type of mesh material, such as a screen or pantyhose.
- Water quickly percolate out of the container but not the soil.
- The beds are filled with potting soil within an inch half of the top.
- This allows sufficient room so an adequate volume of water can be applied to the plants. You can build the containers from scratch, or you might investigate those that are prefab.