Rats are one of the most common pests found in gardens as this is where they breed and find food supplies.
Finding rats in your garden can lead to them entering your house as this is their entry into your property.
These creatures love their anonymity which means they will hide the entrance to any burrow really well.
So when inspecting your garden, look for holes about 8cm in diameter. You may find a small heap of excavated soil and possibly regular path tracks next to the hole.
With this in mind, Jordan Foster of Fantastic Pest Control has suggested that households use their garden to prevent rats from getting cosy around their outdoor space.
Garden plants to keep rats away
1. Mint
Rats very much “dislike the smell” of mint so growing beds with mint at different places around the garden is a good way to cut off some access points for the rodents.
The other benefit of growing mint is that you can use it fresh in your food and beverages.
2. Garlic
Again, the smell of garlic is “repulsive” to these creatures. Once they come in close distance with it, “they will think twice” before getting close to it.
Jordan said: “You can experiment with garlic water and squirt it down a rat burrow. The smell will make it uncomfortable for the rats to live there, and they will leave the place for a more comfortable one.”
Like mint, the other perk for you is growing fresh garlic and cooking some tasty meals.
3. Onion
On the one hand, households can go for growing onions in their garden or just place onions at the most common points of entry for the rats.
The expert claimed: “After taking one smell at it, they will run away. Just make sure to put new onion every few days otherwise, it will rot, and instead of repelling the rodents, it will become their food.”
However, onions can be dangerous if you have pets – especially poisonous for dogs.
Growing beds with onion, garlic and leeks is a pretty effective way of creating a natural border for keeping rodents and “several other pests at bay” as well.
4. Lavender
Rats rely on their sense of smell to find food and avoid dangerous situations like coming near predators or with something repulsive to their senses.
Imagine that one of the most preferable smells for humans – the one of lavender, can have the opposite effect for rats.
Jordan explained: “Because of its potent smell, it can deflect them from finding food. So they try to avoid plants like this one.”
It may be helpful to plant it around specific areas where rats may be attracted to and around the perimeter of the garden.
5. Herbs
Creating a border of herbs like basil, thyme and echinacea around the outside of your garden is a “great control method”.
Jordan said: “Once the rats smell them, they will consider that your place has nothing to offer and they better run to the neighbour who probably doesn’t have a ‘repulsive’ border around the garden.”
