Spring brings breeding season for rats, but gardening experts say a simple change can keep them away
Mia O’Hare Senior Spare Time Journalist and Ketsuda Phoutinane Spare Time Content Editor
12:11, 08 Apr 2026
Rats hate change — use it as a deterrent(Image: Wirestock via Getty Images)
Rats are every gardener’s worst nightmare, capable of completely overrunning outdoor areas. They’re a widespread problem for many households, particularly during spring, when breeding season is in full swing.
As the weather begins to brighten, gardeners are heading back outside to spruce up their plots. Unfortunately, rats are also on the hunt for shelter and sustenance, making gardens a perfect haven for both.
These creatures are largely nocturnal, meaning you may not even be aware of their presence in your garden, though they do leave telltale signs of their activity. Keep an eye out for runs on greasy pathways along walls, fences or buildings,
Gnawed timber, bite marks on crops, burrows, and piles of shredded materials are also indicators that rats have been visiting, reports the Mirror. Fortunately, there are adjustments you can make to your outdoor areas to render them less appealing to these pests.
According to Gardeners’ World, you can discourage rats from your garden with one straightforward adjustment. Simply rearrange items around your outdoor space.
The publication stated: “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’s a straightforward, chemical-free approach that can repel rats, as they’re suspicious of alterations to their surroundings. Gardeners have also been advised to maintain clean and orderly spaces, as clutter draws rats in.
Rodents hate spring cleaning
Simply rearranging pots and making minor adjustments to your garden on a regular basis can be enough to unsettle rats and prompt them to move elsewhere.
Renowned garden expert Alan Titchmarsh has also shared his top tips for keeping rats at bay, warning that compost heaps are a particular magnet for the rodents.
Speaking in a video for Gardeners’ World, he said: “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 two key modifications to your compost heap can make it far less appealing to rats. Firstly, ensure there are no gaps through which they can gain entry. Alan’s own compost heap features a steel sheeting lining on the inside to prevent this.
His second piece of advice concerns what you put 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 recommends adding mouldy apples, which break down rapidly, along with any green garden clippings.
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