Rats are known for causing chaos in peoples home and gardens, especially during the summer months. Their gluttonous need for food and their burrow-digging antics infuriate home owners.
The pests are notorious for damaging plants and leaving their waste behind, which has huge potential to spread diseases. Because of this people are often tempted to set traps or leave poison to stop the rats in their tracks, but this can end up harming other wildlife.
Maia Brown was struggling to find a way to keep the rodents out of her garden so reached out to the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook group to ask for help.
She wrote: “Rats! We’ve got a rat/rats visiting our garden – we see it most days. It’s not nesting in or under my little shed, there’s no food source in the garden and I stopped feeding the birds several weeks ago.”
Adding her worries, she said: “I’m a bit nervous now about going into the garden but my main concern is for my dog and grandchild. Does anyone know how I can deter this rat from coming into the garden? Thanks.”
The responses from forum members was to use peppermint – either oil or plants – to fend off the pests, reports the Express. Helen Ballard recommended: “Peppermint oil works a treat to keep the rats out for a long time.” Diane Moss suggested: “I love peppermint oil for this. Rats hate the stuff. It worked in my garden and house.”
And James Reid chimed in: “They don’t like peppermint. Use it on cotton balls around the garden or grow some of these plants.” Emma Gibson revealed her secret weapon against rodent intruders, explaining: “Liberal use of peppermint oil on bits of cotton wool deterred them from my garden after five minutes of using the stuff. I saw them sprinting away.”
It emerges that mint isn’t just good for the kitchen; its powerful scent is a knockout. Rats can’t handle the minty might due to their sensitive sniffers.
The unique blend of menthol and other elements in mint acts as a natural deterrent, ensuring rats steer clear of zones where this robust herb flourishes.
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