Rats and mice have to eat to survive, we just don’t want them eating our garden plants and fresh vegetables. Rodents are common problems in gardens – not only will they devour the produce but the will also burrow into compost piles to create a place to raise a family and they will tunnel under the garden soil and disrupt the eco-system.
Using traps, poison, or chemicals to get rid of rats and mice in your garden poses a health threat to children, pets, and wildlife. Plus, an organic gardener doesn’t want to use any type of harmful chemical around their food source.
But the rats and mice have to go and there are several safe, organic methods that you can use to get rid of these rodents and keep them away.
Table of Contents
Catnip
Catnip is a multi-functional plant that should be planted in every garden. This herb is not just for cats to enjoy, it contains a natural chemical called nepetalactone that will repel insects and rodents.
The scent of catnip will chase rats and mice away without harming them. If any rodents are stubborn and choose to remain in your garden the catnip will attract cats and they will take care of the rat problem for you.
Plant catnip around the perimeter of your garden and next to any visible rodent droppings or nesting areas.
Also, Read: Best Plants That Repel Snakes
Marigolds
Marigolds look good and work hard in the garden by repelling a multitude of garden pests, including rats and mice. Rats hate the scent of marigold blooms, so plant dwarf marigolds throughout the garden to protect your plants from being eaten by rodents.
Peppermint
Peppermint is a fragrant plant with oils that used for making candy and medicine. It’s also an effective scent to use to rid your garden of rats and mice.
Plant a few peppermint plants in your garden or soak cotton balls with peppermint oil and place around in your garden. Rodents will flee and not return when they catch a whiff of the peppermint scent.
Onions and Garlic
The pungent aroma of onions and garlic sends rats scurrying in the opposite direction. Plant cloves of garlic and green onions in-between garden plants and around the perimeter. The scent will keep rats and mice of your garden and protect your plants.
Plant Herbs
Plant herbs right beside of vegetable plants to help protect them from being eaten by rats and mice. Rosemary. sage, oregano, and pepper are easy to grow herbs that rodents hate.
Clean the Garden
That sounds odd since a garden is naturally dirty but the dirt can stay, it’s the debris that needs to be cleaned up.
Rats and mice need nesting material and dead plants make ideal nesting material and provide places to hide. Clean the garden and get rid of all the non-essential items that are lying nearby. Sticks, wood, piles of grass clippings, and rotting fruit or vegetables should be removed from the garden and disposed of properly. If there are low-hanging trees or shrub limbs near the garden that could offer cover for rodents trim them up to expose hiding places and improve air circulation.
Also, Check: List Of Plants That Repel Ants
Soil Netting
If you have a rat infestation and want to plant a new garden, place soil netting on top of the soil after planting seeds to prevent rodents from burrowing down into the soil.
This is not a method of getting rid of the rats and mice, just a way to protect your newly planted garden until you can get rids of the destructive rodents.
Remove Pet Food Bowls
Rats and mice are looking for an easy meal and secluded spot to reproduce. Cleaning the garden destroys the secluded spots and removing your pet’s food and water bowls from outdoors will take away the rodents easy meals. Bring food bowls indoors at night or just feed pets indoors when possible.
Make sure outside trash cans lids on secured and no outside faucets are dripping. Empty birdbaths and eliminate any standing water sources.
Use Bird Feeders
Tossing birdseed or bread on the ground to feed the birds also provides an easy meal for rats and mice. Use bird feeders suspended from tree limbs or other types of hangers so they are out-of-reach of the rodents.
Seal Cracks in Out-Buildings
Rats are looking for a shelter that is away from animals and humans and that is near a food source. If you have any out-buildings near your garden the rodents may be living inside. Check the outside perimeter of the buildings for cracks that rats might be using to get inside and seal the cracks with chalking, steel wool, foam insulation, or whatever else you have on hand that rats can’t eat through.
Gone For Good
Protect yourself and your garden by getting rid of rodents for good with these organic methods.
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