Goodbye to rats: these are the plants you should have at home to keep them away
Rats tend to become a problem during the winter, as they seek shelter to stay warm, preferably somewhere with food nearby.
January is the month when rodent visits to home gardens are most likely, as they look for a warm place to get heat and access to food, which also makes them less timid around people. However, before resorting to poison or other chemical options, it is advisable to first try some simple natural solutions that are low-cost and unlikely to harm wildlife or pets.
In this regard, Elizabeth, an expert from Polytunnel Gardening, explains that one of the most effective ways to repel rats is by planting specific types of plants that are known to naturally deter them. “Rats are too dangerous to allow near homes, and some plants naturally repel them due to their strong sense of smell. By planting these flowers and herbs in your flowerbeds and vegetable patches, you can keep pests away,” the expert points out.
Plants that repel rodents
Some plants that are known to instantly repel rats include daffodils, garlic, lavender, sage, marigolds, and oregano. Although it may seem strange, rats have a very sensitive sense of smell and are strongly repelled by strong-scented flowers and herbs. Thus, the best type of plant to install in your garden is lavender, as while its scent is sweet and aromatic to humans, it is extremely unpleasant for rodents.
Rats use their sense of smell to find comfortable places where they can shelter from the cold and locate food that is safe from predators. If they encounter an area where the strong aromas of plants mask other smells, they will perceive it as an unsuitable place to stay. Additionally, some of these plants contain compounds that are toxic to rodents, such as daffodils, which contain lycorine, making the area unappealing for them as they will believe everything nearby is poisonous to eat.
Rats can also dig without being noticed
The best approach to deter rats is to plant these types of plants around the edges of your garden or in areas where rodents are likely to dig. It is important to note that daffodils are highly toxic to dogs and cats, so if your pets are small or prone to chewing plants, it’s crucial to keep these flowers out of reach. Not only daffodils, but other plants mentioned such as lavender and oregano, can also be harmful to pets if consumed frequently, so it is recommended that pet owners do their own research before planting them.
One of the most common reasons rats enter gardens is because they smell food nearby, and there are often various areas where they can dig unnoticed. Therefore, if you decide to plant any of the plants mentioned, you should take extra care to keep your garden clean, free of trash, and without overgrown weeds to avoid making it attractive to rodents. Elizabeth noted: “Regularly mowing the lawn, trimming bushes, and removing weeds will eliminate enough hiding places to keep rats out of your garden.” She added: “Removing attractants from your garden will naturally deter rats. These attractants include bird and pet food, compost, garbage, fallen fruits and vegetables, droppings, and water sources.”
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