How to get rid of rats in your garden: 6 steps to a rat-free space
Rats are unwelcome garden visitors that can cause irreversible damage to outdoor buildings and gnaw through electrical cables left in the shed. While it can be challenging to banish these pests (especially with an infestation), there are in fact several methods you can try.
Signs that you have a rat in your garden include:
Droppings, especially around dustbins
Live or dead rats
Nests or piles of materials outside
Foot and tail prints in the dirt
Rat burrows
Bite marks on garden hoses
Strange smells (rats give off an ammonia smell).
6 ways to get rid of rats in your garden
Rats can make life at home miserable, so keep reading for everything you need to know about how to get rid of rats in your garden naturally...
1. Remove accessible food source
Discourage rats from your garden by removing accessible food sources, such as overspilling bins, open compost heaps or bird feeders placed on the ground. While most rats prefer fruit, plants and seeds (they are vegetarian), these pests will consume any pet and human food they come across. The experts at Rentokill advise putting outdoor rubbish bags in metal bins with securely fitted lids to stop rats feeding from its contents.
Rats nest in places that are warm, secure and with easy access to food and water. Some of the areas they will seek shelter include under the foundations of sheds, greenhouses, garages or in overgrown areas of a garden.
2. Block any access to garden buildings
Seal gaps around garden buildings by covering any holes in floors, walls and doors. These clever pests can squeeze through even the smallest of gaps with ease, so use wire mesh and metal to prevent them from entering (rats chew through most materials other than metal).
Top tip: keep on top of repair and maintenance jobs throughout the year to prevent rats from finding easy access.
3. Use natural ingredients
Famous for having a highly developed smell, rats are susceptible to certain pungent scents such as peppermint, clover, garlic, onion, used coffee grounds, eucalyptus, and white vinegar. In order to deter them, simply scatter these ingredients around the exterior of your home – just a small drop can be too much for their nose to handle.
'Using peppermint oil is one of the more novel ways you can keep rats at bay this summer, says Chris Hutton, storage expert and owner of Adams Selfstore. 'As rats have an extremely strong sense of smell, they find the strong scent of peppermint overwhelming, and it’s often enough to deter them from your property.
'To use this hack, simply soak some cotton balls in peppermint oil and place them strategically around your home, focusing on entry points, such as cracks, gaps, and suspected rat pathways. You’ll need to replenish the oil every few days to maintain its potency, but this method is humane and eco-friendly and avoids the use of harmful chemicals or traps.'
4. Keep an eye on your crops
Waiting for your apple tree to burst into blossom? You'll have to be quick, as rats are known for devouring crops before you even get round to harvest them. As well as apples, these rodents also enjoy eating berries, peas, stone fruits, citrus fruits, broccoli and cabbage, so we recommend placing some chicken wire (or something similar) to cover your veggie patch.
5. Keep your garden tidy
Avoid potential nesting places by keeping your garden clean and tidy. Rats can scurry behind furniture, in shrubberies, under piles of grass and leaves, inside sheds, under barrels, and in thick vegetation that covers the ground. They are more likely to choose overgrown areas, so keep hedges and bushes neatly trimmed. Tidy gardens are less likely to attract rats as they provide less cover.
6. Call in the experts
If you have a rat infestation, the most effective long-term solution is to call in the specialists. Not only will they help to get rid of rats, but professionals can identify the root cause of the infestation and keep rats from coming back in the future. For more information on how to get rid of rats quickly, visit rentokil.co.uk or call your local experts.
Follow House Beautiful on TikTok and Instagram.
You Might Also Like
