The garden expert says one garden item is a ‘magnet’ for rats
Alan Titchmarsh has shared his tip on keeping rats away from your garden(Image: Getty Images)
Rats are a common problem in gardens, and now that spring is here, the issue can only get worse. With the weather getting warmer, many households will want to spend more time outdoors.
However, spring is the prime breeding season for rats and mice. They are hungry and searching for shelter, and they know our gardens can provide ideal nesting spots and food.
Infestations can become a nightmare to get rid of and are costly to solve. It is important to ensure rats don’t take over, and Alan Titchmarsh has some vital advice.
The gardening expert revealed one thing gardeners love to do can actually be attracting rats. Feeding birds can encourage rats into the garden, as they also want to tuck into 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.”
Alan suggests keeping bird feeders in the middle of a garden(Image: scu)
Thankfully, you can stop rats coming after the bird food and entering your garden. Alan explained it is all to do with where you position 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 recommends placing your feeder directly in the middle of your garden, away from bushes, hedges and walls. Plus, it will give you a better view of the birds when they stop by to feed.
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The gardener urged: “So, in an open space is by far the best place for a bird feeder. Then, you shouldn’t have the rat problem.”
Alan has another tip that can be used to eliminate rats coming into the garden, alongside the position of the bird feeder. He suggests not leaving any bird food out through the night.
Alan said: “Put it out first thing in the morning.” He admitted many gardeners might be concerned about his tip, as birds like to eat first thing in the morning.
Yet, he said it won’t be an issue for the birds as they can simply wait. Alan added: “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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