Deter rats from your garden 'in a hurry' with five plants they find 'repulsive'

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Rats, infamous for their unwelcome presence in gardens where they breed and scavenge, can easily make the leap from your garden to the inside of your house.

These vermin are masters of concealment, adept at hiding their burrows. Be vigilant for holes about 8cm wide when inspecting your garden.

Jordan Foster from Fantastic Pest Control recommends that homeowners use their gardens as a line of defence to prevent rats from taking up residence. By doing this, you can stop these pests from feeling too comfortable in your outdoor spaces.

To discourage rats, planting mint throughout your garden is advised because they "dislike the smell" of it, which can obstruct potential access points.

Not only does mint repel rodents, but it also adds a burst of freshness to your cooking, reports the Express.

In the same vein, the scent of garlic is "repulsive" to rats, causing them to think twice about entering. Jordan suggested: "You can experiment with garlic water and squirt it down a rat burrow.

"The smell will make it uncomfortable for the rats to live there, and they will leave your garden in a hurry for a more comfortable one."

Apart from its ability to keep rodents at bay, cultivating garlic has the added perk of providing fresh ingredients for tasty home-cooked dishes.

For households grappling with rodent problems, experts suggest that planting onions in the garden could be an effective repellent.

The expert advised: "After taking one smell at it, they will run away. Just make sure to put new onion every few days otherwise, it will rot, and instead of repelling the rodents, it will become their food."

However, pet owners should be cautious, as both onions and garlic can be toxic to pets, particularly to dogs.

In addition to onions, cultivating beds with garlic and leeks can also serve as an effective natural barrier against rodents and various other pests.

Rats depend heavily on their sense of smell to locate food and "avoid dangerous situations," which they sense by certain repulsive scents like lavender.

Surprisingly, the pleasant aroma of lavender to humans is off-putting to rats. Jordan elaborated: "Because of its potent smell, it can deflect them from finding food. So they try to avoid plants like this one."

Planting lavender strategically around areas that attract rats and along garden perimeters could prove beneficial.

Jordan recommends establishing a border with herbs such as basil, thyme, and echinacea. He explained: "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 the garden."

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