Homeowners can use a common kitchen item to keep rats at bay, an expert says. The rodents are common in both urban and rural areas of Britain, and are known to sneak into gardens and homes as they scavenge for food.
But while the creatures may look cute and harmless, they can cause havoc in your garden if left unchecked. The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) warns homeowners that they “feed on the fruit and vegetables that we intend to eat, either while it is growing or after it has been harvested and is being stored”, and are also known to take food left out for birds, poultry and pets.
The little critters can also carry a bacteria that causes “a form of jaundice known as leptospirosis or Weil’s (pronounced ‘Viles’) disease” which can affect people, the RHS adds.
Additionally, they’re fond of making their way into compost heaps and burrowing in them, contaminating fruit and vegetables that are eaten raw.
If they do manage to get into your garden, they may well head towards your home in search of warmth, particularly in the colder periods of the year.
Thankfully, there are a number of simple and humane ways of deterring them from entering, even if you don’t have a reliable way of sealing your garden, including mixing up a spray solution using two common plants.
Angelika Zaber, a Lawn Care Specialist and Gardening Expert for Online Turf says: “Strong scents like garlic or mint are unpleasant for rodents.
“You can use these to make a mixture by adding some plants into a spray bottle, filling it with water and letting it sit for a while, then spray any entry points in your garden.”
If you opt to just use mint, the price Aldi has listed online for 0.03kg’s worth is currently just 51p for example, making it a cost-effective solution. Aldi notes that prices may vary in store.
Ms Zaber says if you want to keep them out of your home, stopping them from getting into the garden in the first place is key, she says.
“There are many ways in which this can be done, but for the best results, a hybrid approach of mixing different methods together is best,” she explained.
“Rodents are looking for gardens that they deem to be a food source. If you’ve got a compost pile or unsecured bins, they’re going to want to keep coming back because they know they can get a steady supply of food easily.”
To prevent this, she advises investing in secure, lockable bin lids, saying: “Don’t leave any rubbish out overnight, and invest in a compost bin so the pile is sealed and can’t be accessed”.
“Even if a rodent can smell it, if they can’t access it, it will deter them from returning. However, the bin itself must be made from good-quality materials, and should be placed on a solid base, such as concrete, to block burrowing rats.”
The expert also called on gardeners to seal their gardens as much as possible.
“To do this, invest in high, smooth fences with no gaps in between and install netted mesh on the ground so that it’s harder for them to get in,” she added.
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