Pests like mice find gardens to be their ideal habitat, unfortunately. Since they provide plenty of natural cover and easily accessible food sources, mice will be protected from potential danger and predators.
Although a mouse or two in the garden is likely to go unnoticed, an infestation can rear its head quickly, destroying plants, eating freshly sown seeds and eventually finding their way into your home.
Mice are opportunistic pests and vegetable damage is one of the common mouse garden problems.
To help you take back control of your garden and make mice “stay away”, gardening pros at Sefton Meadows Garden Centre have shared their best advice.
Use strong scents and scented plants
Just like rats, mice have powerful senses of smell. Luckily, you can utilise this to deter them from your garden.
By regularly spreading these scents around your garden – paying particular attention to troublesome zones, including food sources and nesting areas – you’re likely to “notice a difference quickly”.
Scents that deter mice include:
- Vinegar
- Eucalyptus
- Cedarwood
- Chilli
- Cinnamon
- Peppermint
- Cloves
- Cayenne pepper
The following fragrant flowers and herbs can also be used to “deter mice naturally”.
- Lavender
- Marigolds
- Daffodils
- Rosemary
- Sage
- Mint
- Peppermint
Ultrasonic devices
Ultrasonic devices produce high-frequency waves that are believed to “irritate the delicate senses of mice”.
Although experts have disputed the success of any ultrasonic mouse repellent, many users have reported success by including them in their gardens.
Also, ultrasonic mice deterrents allegedly “drive away a range of other pests”, including foxes, cockroaches, birds and flies, so they’re well worth a try.
Place these devices around potential food sources and nesting grounds, including flower beds, vegetable patches, hedges, shrubs, and trees for the “best results”.
Make a homemade mouse-repellant spray
Often, people use baits and poisons as mice deterrents, but these aren’t particularly ethical or safe methods. Luckily, there are plenty of natural homemade mouse repellents that “will do the trick”.
The experts claimed: “You can create a mice repellent spray that can easily be applied around your garden, or you can soak cotton wool balls in essential oils and place them around spots that mice are more likely to inhabit.
“We’d recommend using soaked cotton wool balls for the best deterrent, as the scent will be stronger and more likely to keep mice away. However, you can use both for even greater effect.”
To make your own mouse repellent spray, combine two tablespoons of a strong essential oil (peppermint, lavender, tea tree and eucalyptus work well) with 250ml of water.
Shake well and apply wherever you think it is most necessary around the garden. This solution “will also work to deter mice in the home”.
