Plants ‘repulsive’ and ‘offensive’ towards rats - ‘they’ll think twice’ before entering
Rats will often enter gardens in autumn to search for food and shelter, but they can be a huge annoyance for gardeners. To help deter them, an expert has shared the best plants to introduce into the garden.
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Rats are often found in the garden, but will sometimes make their way inside the home too, which can be a big issue for homeowners.
Rodents pose a hygiene threat towards residents as they can carry a range of parasites and diseases with them.
Instead of opting for rat traps, Jordan Foster, pest control expert at Fantastic Pest Control, recommended a range of plants which rats will find “repulsive” and “offensive”.
The expert explained: “There is no doubt rats are smart. They're good at hiding until it's too late.
“Rats usually get into your garden because it's an excellent place to hide and a constant food source.
“You've got to use some serious rat control methods or hire a pro to get rid of the rodents once they're settled.”
However, the use of plants can help to deter rats from the garden such as mint and garlic.
According to the expert, the smell of mint is “very offensive” towards rats so planting it in different spots around the garden is an “excellent” way to keep the rodents out.
Britons could opt for mint inside the home too, on a kitchen windowsill which receives lots of sunlight and warmth.
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The smell of garlic is also “repulsive” to rats and if they get too close to the plant “they’ll think twice”, according to Jordan.
He added: “Try squirting garlic water down a rat burrow. Rats rely on their sense of smell to find food and avoid dangerous situations like predators or something repulsive.
“Imagine that one of our favourite smells, lavender, can have quite the opposite effect on rats. It can keep them from finding food because of its potent smell.
“Place it around decks, garden structures, and around the perimeter of your yard where rats might be attracted.
“Create a border of herbs like basil, thyme, and echinacea around the outside of your garden.
“If the rats smell them, they'll think your place has nothing to offer and run to your neighbour, who probably doesn't have a 'repulsive' border around the garden.”
While using plants will help to deter them, ultimately, gardens need to be clutter-free which won’t be inviting for the rats, and this includes the lawn.
Make sure the grass is cut short heading into the winter months so rats can’t hide in it as well as storing any compost and wood off the ground.
