Rats and mice can be a real bother, burrowing into soil and munching on your carefully nurtured plants. However, there’s a simple trick to deter them from entering your garden.
With the UK currently experiencing stormy cold weather, rodents are more likely to venture near humans and invade gardens in search of shelter and food.
It’s crucial to prevent rats and mice from encroaching on your property as they can spread diseases through their urine and droppings, contaminating the soil.
But instead of resorting to harsh traps or poison, which can significantly harm local wildlife, experts at TermiGuard Pest Services suggest planting strong-smelling flowers and herbs as an effective deterrent, reports the Express.
They advised: “While traps and poisons are common solutions, incorporating certain plants into your garden is a natural and eco-friendly method to deter mice. These plants act as natural repellents due to their scent, taste, or texture, although you may need a real mouse exterminator for serious infestations.”
Rats and mice have highly sensitive noses, and while certain plants may smell pleasant to us, they can be overpowering to rodents.
Rodents rely on their sense of smell to find food and watch out for predators, but strong-smelling plants can mask these scents.
This means that gardens filled with strong-smelling plants are likely to be deemed uninhabitable by mice and rats, encouraging them to move on.
The humble daffodil, a harbinger of the new season, isn’t just pretty — it’s a tactical tool against pesky mice and rats. With their heady aroma and toxic compounds, daffodils are a secret weapon in protecting your greens from gnawing rodents.
According to the gardening experts, these bright blooms pack a punch of lycorine in their bulbsbad news for mouse populations looking for a nibble. They recommend: “The bulbs of daffodils contain lycorine, a compound that is toxic to mice. Planting daffodils around the garden can help protect other plants from being gnawed on by mice.”
Though be warned, pet owners, the same toxins in daffs that dispatch the rodents can also be harmful to cats and dogs. In such cases, consider other options, like fragrant lavender. This plant is more than just a feast for our noses; it baffles and repels rodents with its potent scent.
The experts recommend: “Renowned for its soothing and pleasant fragrance to humans, lavender is disliked by mice. Its strong scent confuses their sense of smell, deterring them from entering the area. Planting lavender along garden borders or near entry points can help keep mice at bay.”
But if you’re cooking up an anti-rodent strategy, don’t forget the spice of peppermint. Its zesty fragrance not only wards off rodents but is also a natural insect repellent, keeping flies and mosquitos at arm’s length.
The expert stated: “The pungent aroma overwhelms their sensitive noses, making it an excellent deterrent. Planting peppermint around the perimeter of your garden or near entry points to your home can create a fragrant barrier.”