Rats can quickly ruin the peace of a back garden. They dig holes, chew through fences and leave behind mess and damage, especially from September onwards. The cooler nights and shorter days of autumn send them looking for food and shelter, and gardens across the UK often provide the perfect hiding spots.
It’s a problem that’s been getting worse in recent years, as rats become more common in both urban and rural areas. Fences can help, but they’re not always enough. That’s why one gardener has shared a method she says finally worked, and it didn’t cost her more than a few pence.
Rebecca Harris, a gardener from Yorkshire, said she had been struggling with rats for years.
“They tore up my plants and left droppings around my shed,” she said. “I tried traps, I tried blocking holes, but they always came back. It was stressful.”
This year, she tried something different, a spray made with cayenne pepper.
“I mixed a couple of teaspoons of cayenne with a litre of water, gave it a good shake, and sprayed it along the bottom of my fence panels,” she said.
“The rats hate the smell and taste, and so far they haven’t returned. It hasn’t harmed my fence either. It’s such a relief.”
Home and garden experts at Balustrade Superstore say the method is safe for most fences, including wood, vinyl, and metal.
The only exception is freshly painted or stained wood, which could show a slight residue. Their advice is to test a small area first.
They added: “A weak solution of one or two teaspoons of cayenne per litre of water is ideal.
“Too much can leave red streaks, especially on light wood. But if applied lightly along fence edges, it’s both safe and effective.”
The only drawback is that rain can wash it away. In wet weather, households will need to reapply the spray.
But the method is easy to repeat and avoids the need for chemical rat repellents.
Lap panel fences are the most common type found in UK gardens, standing around two metres tall.
When combined with natural repellents, they can stop rats from sneaking in through gaps or burrowing near the base.
Rebecca said: “It used to feel like the rats were winning. Now I feel like my garden is mine again.”
As autumn sets in, the experts warn this is the time when rats start stockpiling food and building nests. Acting now could stop a full infestation later.
A Balustrade Superstore spokesperson said: “Simple tricks like this won’t work for everyone, but they can make a real difference. Especially when used with solid fencing, they offer peace of mind during peak pest season.”