What to do with stray cats in the garden?

I have a similar problem as someone home was forclosed on (common now :-( and they moved placing two unneutered full grown males in the streets. These males have been hard at work and now we have about 50 or so young cats that are wild. My yard and flower beds were not able to sporout due to all the kitty bumps or mounds left neatly covered in a row. I called a rescue and they came out td a few and spayed or neutered them and released them...lol...they can not be placed in homes once they are wild. The male they managed to catch is now fixed as well he is a friendly guy and sittiing in a ferret cage in the front of my house, waiting a good home. I noticed my neighbors yard was beautiful and she was having no kitty troubles. She told me her secret was to place chicken wire flat on the ground and hold it in place with the ends of wire hangers, it works the cats hate it. they can not dig and see no need to visit you with this nasty stuff over the dirt. It also allows for the plants to grow establish and rain to water them just as normal.