As the seasons start to change and you start to venture outdoors in preparation for warmer weather, you may start to clear away debris from the winter and find that some pests have made a home in your garden.
There are several ways to try and get rid of rats in your garden;
- Remove food and water source – like most pests, rats are attracted to areas where food and water are readily available. If you can remove access to these sources will help. This can include removing food scraps from outside composters, wiping down bird tables, and ensuring bird food is stored safely away. Clean these areas regularly to ensure residue fats and foods are removed.
- Keep your garden tidy – rats love to hide and they will happily enjoy large overgrown bushes that are rarely disturbed. Trim back debris and bushes, and even cut back large flowers that are providing good coverage.
- Keep your compost heaps moist – rats do not like moisture, so spraying water on your compost heap will ensure they find it less attractive.
- Seal gaps where you can see they are coming through into your shed, or yard.
- Move items around in your garden – if you have woodpiles, an area where you have stored summer items, move these around so they do not find these hiding places habitable.
- Decking – exterior decking can be a wonderful shelter for nesting rats, dry, available food sources and easy access to the underside of your property. Seal them up, find all access points and ensure you use appropriate sealant.
- Cover drains – the underground superhighway, ensure you have efficient drain covers to stop rats from using drains as their transport link.
Plants can help to deter rats in your garden.
Specific plants can also keep rats away from your garden as they do not like strong scents, and you can consider growing several of these around your back yard.
- Lavender – strong and lovely scent for humans, but rats dislike the aroma. You can grow lavender around your fence line and decking, or alternatively you can use dried lavender as a natural rat repellent.
- Chysanthemums – these beautiful bright flowers contain a natural pesticide called pyrethrin and it is poisonous to rodents. Great for humans as they are a wonderful bright addition to the garden. Be aware, these can also be poisonous to cats and dogs so a plant you will have to avoid if you have pets.
- Sage – this lovely herb can not only enhance your pasta dishes, but the strong smell is a natural rat repellent. Use in pots around the garden or let it grow wildly to repel those mice and rats from entrypoints.
- Peppermint – another strong herb, and great addition to your kitchen garden stocks. It’s spicy and pungent aroma contains menthol which acts as yet another natural repellant to rats and mice. Try spearmint and peppermint, the strong varieties will be most effective.
- Peppermint oil – if you don’t grow peppermint, using peppermint oil on cotton wool, and leaving them in places you suspect rats may be using as a thoroughfare will also act as a rodent repellent.
These are some options you can use to keep rats and mice from your home and garden. But if the problem persists, or you need more specialist advice because an infestation has got out of hand, give the Rentokil Pest Control experts a call. We have the UK largest network of trained qualified pest controllers. Get in touch today.