One common garden item is a ‘magnet’ to rats
Mia O’Hare Showbiz Reporter
14:41, 26 Mar 2026
Rats are a common garden problem(Image: imageBROKER/Kevin Sawford via Getty Images)
As temperatures rise, many households will be keen to spend more time in their outdoor spaces. However, spring marks the peak breeding season for rats and mice.
Rats are a widespread issue in gardens, and with spring now upon us, the problem is likely to only get worse. They are hungry and seeking shelter, and they know our gardens offer ideal nesting sites and food.
Infestations can prove extremely difficult to eliminate and expensive to resolve. It is crucial to prevent rats from taking hold, and Alan Titchmarsh has some essential guidance.
The gardening expert highlighted one activity gardeners love can actually draw rats in, reports the Mirror. Feeding birds can invite rats into the garden, as they too want to feast on their food.
Alan said: “Most gardeners, myself included, love encouraging garden birds, so bird feeders are everywhere in this garden. But, they can also be a magnet for rats”,
It is important where you place your bird feeder(Image: Trudie Davidson via Getty Images)
Fortunately, you can prevent rats from targeting the bird food and entering your garden. Alan explained that it all comes down to where you place your bird feeder.
He said: “The key to success with them is to position in the open, in the middle of your lawn. Rats hate running through exposed areas.
“If you put your bird feeder alongside a hedge or wall, that’s great as they have shelter and they rush out and grab what they want and rush back.”
Alan suggests positioning your feeder right in the centre of your garden, well away from bushes, hedges and walls. Additionally, this placement will provide you with an improved vantage point for observing the birds as they visit to feed.
The gardening expert emphasised: “So, in an open space is by far the best place for a bird feeder. Then, you shouldn’t have the rat problem.”
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Alan offered another practical tip to help prevent rats from entering the garden, in addition to the placement of the bird feeder. He advises against leaving any bird food out overnight.
He explained: “Put it out first thing in the morning.” He acknowledged that many gardeners might worry about his suggestion, given that birds typically feed early in the day.
However, he reassured that this won’t pose a problem for the birds as they can simply wait. Alan continued: “If you have had a rat problem, they can wait half an hour before you put it out.
“That way, you’ll enjoy the garden birds and hopefully not a rat in sight.”
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