Mice are extremely common in the UK, often spotted nipping into gardens, sheds, garages, greenhouses and our actual houses at night in particularAlex Evans Deputy Audience Editor and Sam Dimmer East Midlands Head of Brand
05:00, 13 Dec 2025
Mice will turn and run from your garden if you leave one of these natural items out(Image: Getty)
It’s that period when darkness dominates almost constantly, with evenings growing increasingly cold.
Whilst we begin withdrawing indoors more frequently during the winter period, various creatures are scurrying into our gardens and frequently, our properties as well.
Mice are exceptionally prevalent across the UK, regularly observed darting into gardens, outbuildings, garages, glasshouses and our actual dwellings, particularly during nighttime hours.
Mice, whether dormice or field mice, don’t enter hibernation, meaning they can pose difficulties throughout the entire year.
During chillier periods, when sustenance becomes harder to find, you may discover them foraging for nourishment within your property, having entered through wall fissures or floorboard openings.
The gardening resource Polytunnel Gardening suggests you’re more prone to encounter mice during autumn and winter, requiring you to remain ‘especially alert’ at this time.
The site states: “Wood mice and field mice can easily get in your home since they are small enough to squeeze in almost anywhere.”, reports the Express.
“However, they are more likely to shelter in garages, sheds, and outhouses because they provide easier access to the outside world.
“So, although the mice you see in your garden may come into your home, they are more likely to take refuge in your outhouses instead.
“You’re more likely to see mice inside during the autumn and winter months, so you should remain particularly vigilant around this time.”
To deter them and encourage them to scurry away, there are several natural items that can be scattered around your garden which mice find repugnant due to their heightened sense of smell.
Any one of these items placed in your garden can act as a deterrent for mice and prevent them from entering your house as well.
They further explained: “There are plenty of scents that deter mice because their sense of smell is so strong.
“Disperse these odours around your garden, paying special attention to problematic areas like food sources and nesting spots, regularly to see an effect.
Scents that deter mice include:
CinnamonVinegarPeppermintTeabagsMintAmmoniaClovesCayenne pepper
However, it’s important to remember that mice serve as a crucial food source for other wildlife, such as foxes and owls. Therefore, you should only deter mice if they’re causing issues in your garden or home.
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