Irish gardener Peter Dowdall has warned that rats are common in most gardens in Ireland.
Many people have to deal with unwanted rats in their garden (stock image)(Image: Dave Harrison-Ward via Getty Images)
As warmer weather encourages more people across Ireland to spend time outdoors, concerns about rats in gardens are once again coming into focus.
One experienced Irish horticulturist says the issue is far more widespread than many realise – and that preventing it comes down to simple steps that are often overlooked.
Peter Dowdall, known as The Irish Gardener, has urged households to prioritise basic garden hygiene rather than relying on quick fixes, warning that rodents are a common feature in gardens nationwide.
He said: “Rats, it comes down to, and it’s not a miracle thing, but if you want the proper answer to it, rats are in probably 100% of gardens and they come out at night time when they are not seen and the garden is quiet.
“It is all about making sure you are not giving them a reason to stay in your garden, that you are not giving them a reason to nest, it comes down to a lot of hygiene really.”
With more than 30 years of experience working in gardens across Ireland, Dowdall said the key to keeping rats away is removing what attracts them – particularly food, water and shelter. He warned that one of the most common mistakes is disposing of food waste incorrectly, which can quickly draw rodents and encourage them to settle nearby.
Peter Dowdall at Chelsea Flower Show(Image: RSVP Live)
He explained: “Never throw cooked food waste into an open compost bin because that will draw rats. If you give them a food source, a water source, and somewhere safe to nest, then they will stay, so it is all about cleanliness in the garden really in terms of hygiene.
“Not leaving stuff that would be attracted to rats and nesting sites and food sources. If you can make sure you are not leaving them in the garden, then that’s as much as you can do really against rats.”
His advice comes as garden centres across Ireland see a seasonal surge in customers looking to improve their outdoor spaces. However, Dowdall cautioned that increased interest in gardening can sometimes lead to environmentally harmful choices.
There’s certain garden errors to avoid if you don’t want rats in your garden (stock image)(Image: Ian_Redding via Getty Images)
He highlighted what he described as a widely used but problematic lawn care product, often sold as a convenient all-in-one solution.
He said: “When it comes to the lawn, I would imagine that one of the best selling products in garden centres at this time of year is what is called the triple action products which are bags of lawn feed with the moss killer and the weed killer built in.
“They are very ecologically damaging. It is like blanket bombing your lawn. So, you are feeding the grass which is grand, but you are also applying chemical moss killers and chemical weed killers to the lawn, many in areas that don’t need it. They don’t have weeds or moss so you are just blanket bombing it.”
Dowdall said the impact of these products goes beyond unnecessary chemical use, warning they may also pose risks in domestic settings. He added that applying treatments to lawns where they are not needed – particularly in areas used by families – should be carefully considered, especially where children are likely to be playing.
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