Rats, known to be a common pest problem, will swarm a garden if it’s an inviting environment for them. Taking to the popular Facebook page Gardening Hints and Tips, Julie Finch spoke about a previous rat problem she had. She said: “Hi. Those of you that want to make sure rats stay away, I get rats in the garden occasionally and have tried a few methods to move them on (purely because I have four bunnies).” She was elated that she found success with an unexpected deterrent: “This time I’ve tried raw onion (I’d read about it that they hate the stuff) and it seems to have worked perfectly.”
Detailing her method, she said: “I put raw chopped onion down the rat hole and covered it with soil, next morning a new hole appeared, presumably to get out, so I did the same again. New holes appeared for the next two days but nothing since. I’ve never seen them enter the garden again.”
Jordan Foster, a pest control expert from Fantastic Pest Control, sides with using onions to deter rats.
Offering his professional insight, he said: “You can grow onion in your garden or place it at the most common entry points for rats. Once they smell it, they’ll run because they despise it.”
Gardeners wanting to try this tactic should remember to replace the onions regularly every couple of days to maintain their effectiveness; otherwise, they’ll simply decompose.
Jordan added: “Making beds with onion, garlic, and leeks is a great way to keep rodents and other pests at bay.”
Most kitchens will already have onions, or they can be bought inexpensively from any supermarket.
However, Jordan cautioned that “onions can be dangerous for pets”, particularly dogs, so it’s important to be cautious.
Peppermint oil is another thing rats “hate”, the expert pointed out. Peppermint is a hardy perennial plant that only needs planting once and will re-emerge every spring.
In addition, the expert recommended using peppermint oil on cotton placed in rat burrows, which should be replaced every few days: “Place cotton in the burrow after it’s been dipped in peppermint. You’ll need to change the cotton every three to four days, but the rats won’t stick around for too long.”
For those seeking a more formidable solution, Jordan observed: “Bay leaves are deadly for rats. They eat it thinking it’s food. It’s poisonous for them, so they’re going to die.”