Rats are a gardener’s worst nightmare as they can take over our outdoor spaces. They are a common problem for many, particularly during spring, when they are at their peak breeding period.
As the weather begins to improve, gardeners have ventured back outdoors to spruce up their gardens. However, rats are on the hunt for shelter and food, and find gardens an ideal spot for both. The creatures are mostly nocturnal, so you might not even realise you have them in your garden, but they do leave some tell-tale signs that they have been there.
Keep an eye out for runs, which are greasy tracks alongside walls, fences or buildings. Gnawed wood, teeth marks in crops, burrows, and heaps of loose, shredded materials are also indicators that rats have been present.
Thankfully, there are adjustments you can make to your outdoor spaces to make them less appealing to rats. According to Gardeners’ World, you can deter rats from your garden with one very straightforward change. All you need to do is move things around your garden.
The publication explained: “Rats are ‘neo-phobic’, which means they have a fear of new things. They don’t like disruption to their territory, so place obstacles in their runs and move things around in the garden frequently.”
It is a simple, non-toxic approach that can discourage rats as they are wary of changes to their environment. Gardeners have also been urged to keep their spaces clean and tidy, as mess attracts rats.
Regularly disturbing your garden can be as straightforward as moving pots around. Despite such minor changes, rats will feel unsettled and will be prompted to seek elsewhere.
He said in a video for Gardeners’ World: “The place they love more than anywhere else in the garden is the compost heap. Mainly because of the heat generated by all this rotting vegetation. They can burrow into it, and they’ve got a central-heated house.”
Alan explained that there are two changes you can make to the compost heap to make it much less attractive to rats. Begin by making certain there are no gaps in the heap for them to enter. Alan’s own compost heap has a steel sheeting lining on the inside.
His next tip is about what goes into the compost heap. “Don’t put processed food, anything you have cooked, any meat, any potatoes,” he urged. “Don’t do that because it’s just an absolute open invitation for rats.”
Instead, Alan suggests putting in mouldy apples, as they rot quickly, and any green clippings from the garden.
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