Gardens are where many animals and pest species fight for a better place to live, breed and find food supplies. This is the place where gardeners can intersect them and prevent them from approaching, attacking and entering their home. As gardens are a weak point of entry it is a good idea to try to reinforce the place against the rodents who can ruin it. There are a few ways to do it by using organic methods and taking advantage of the natural resources to add to gardens, according to Jordan Foster of Fantastic Pets Control.
He said: “You may consider planning on how to utilise your garden and prevent rats from getting cosy around your flower beds and kids’ playground.
“Poison and traps usually come first to mind. As good as a pest control method these can be, they are useful once we ascertain the constant presence of rodents on the property.
“It’s not very convenient to surround your garden with traps and poisonous elements all the time if you are cultivating it, and have pets and children around. You can help yourself by utilising some organic pest control methods.”
For quite some time, people have determined that some plants successfully deter rodents. However, this method is “only effective” during the spring and summer months when gardeners can cultivate plants.
During the winter months, gardens will need to keep the garden clean, their garbage under lock and constantly check their shed if they have one. Don’t give time to these creatures to burrow and infest the place.
Plant mint or use it’s oil
According to the expert, “rats very much dislike the smell of mint” so they will avoid anywhere the scent is.
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 using it fresh in food and beverages.
Jordan claimed that peppermint is particularly the most potent as he claimed “rats just can’t stand this aroma”.
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The expert suggested: “What you can do is dip cotton in peppermint and place it in the burrow. You will need to change the cotton every three to four days, but you won’t need to wait too long before the rats scurry away from the smelly hole.”
Garlic
Again, “the smell is repulsive to the creatures”. Once they come in close distance with it, Jordan said that “they will think twice before getting close to it”.
Gardners can experiment with garlic water and squirt it down a rat burrow. The pest control pro said: “The smell will make it uncomfortable for the rats to live there, and they will leave the place for a more comfortable one.”
Lavender
Jordan explained that rats rely on their sense of smell to find food and avoid dangerous situations like coming in close proximity with predators or with something “repulsive to their senses”.
Because of its “potent smell”, lavender can deflect them from finding food so “they try to avoid plants like this one”.
It may be helpful to plant it around areas where rats may be attracted to, around decks, garden structures and around the perimeter of the garden.
Herbs
Creating a border of herbs like basil, thyme and echinacea around the outside of a garden is a “great control method”, according to the expert.
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 their garden.
“It’s a kind of win-win situation. You will keep rats away, as well as the mosquitoes in the summer, and have some fresh herbs and a pleasant scent in the garden.”
Onions
Gardeners can go for growing onions in their garden or just place onions at the most common points of entry for the rats.
Jordan said: “After taking one smell at it, they will run. Just make sure to put new onions every few days otherwise, it will rot and instead of repelling the rodents, it will become their food.”
However, onions can be dangerous for those who have pets, especially for dogs. The expert added: “Growing beds with onion, garlic and leeks is a pretty effective way of creating a natural border for keeping not only rodents but several other pests at bay as well.”
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