Four 'natural yet effective’ ways to banish rats from your garden for good
15.08.2022 - 13:57
/ dailyrecord.co.uk
Rats are are rarely welcome guests when they enter your home - and they are no more welcome in your garden.
The filthy vermin are known to be carriers of potentially serious diseases, including Salmonella, and Leptospirosis - which can lead to Weil’s disease.
The garden is a haven for rats to set up homes, as there are countless nooks and crannies where they won't be spotted.
They can take shelter beneath decking, in sheds or greenhouses, and compost heaps. While the most common way to get rid of rats from gardens is the use of rat poison and traps, they are toxic and may pose danger to wildlife, pets and humans.
Rats are mostly nocturnal so gardeners may not see them, but there are other tell-tale signs to look out for.
There may be tunnels, tracks alongside walls, fences or buildings that are up to 10cm wide. Gardeners might also notice their cylindrical droppings, gnawed wood, or parallel teeth marks in crops.
If you're worried about using chemical laden pesticides, gardening experts at Primrose have shared four natural, yet effective ways to get rid of rats in gardens for good, as reported by the Express.
Rats have “one of the best senses of smell in the animal kingdom”, trumping that of dogs, according to the experts.
They explained: “When used in concentration, essential oils can do wonders to effectively deter rats from your garden due to their potency.
“Peppermint oil, citronella and eucalyptus essential oils in their pure form are all smells that rats will dislike. “
A few drops of these oils in their pure form around the areas you know the rats have been should do the trick.
Alternatively, soak cotton wool in essential oil and place in rat traffic areas.
Rats are repelled by spicy seasonings such as hot pepper. The