Rats will stay out of gardens forever if you grow 6 plants they naturally hate

Gardeners need to be vigilant in January as rats are more likely to come into gardens (Image: Getty)

Gardeners need to be vigilant in January as rats are more likely to come into gardens when the weather is cold, but there is a simple way to deter them before they become a problem. 

Rats tend to be a big issue in wintertime as they are looking for a warm shelter where there is plenty of food around, which makes them less weary of being around humans. 

However, before you use poison or other chemical options, consider first trying some simple natural solutions which will not cost much and are not likely to harm wildlife or pets. 

Elizabeth, an expert from Polytunnel Gardening has shared you can prevent rats from entering gardens “for good” if you grow certain plants which are known to repel them. 

She said: “Some plants naturally deter rats due to their strong sense of smell, and filling your flower beds and vegetable patches with them can keep the pests away.

Lavender is one of the best plants to repel rats due to it being highly fragrant (Image: Getty)

“Some rat deterrent plants you should consider include daffodils, garlic, lavender, sage, marigolds and oregano.” 

It may seem strange, but rats have incredibly sensitive noses and can easily be overwhelmed by flowers and herbs with powerful fragrances. Flowers like lavender tend to be the best to have in your garden, as while they have a sweet, perfumed scent for humans, they are extremely irritating for rodents.

Rats need their sense of smell to look for food and know if predators are nearby. If strong-smelling plants mask these scents, they will believe a garden is not worth staying in. 

Some of these plants contain compounds that are toxic to rodents, such as daffodils, which have lycorine. Rodents will not stay in an area if they believe everything nearby is poisonous to eat. 

However, the best approach is to plant a variety of these plants around the borders of your garden or in places where rodents are likely to burrow. This should help keep them away. 

Make sure rubbish is stored away properly as the smell will attract rats (Image: Getty)

It should be noted that daffodils are highly toxic to cats and dogs, so if your pets are young or prone to eating plants, keep them out of your garden. 

Other plants listed here, such as garlic, lavender, oregano, and marigold, can also harm pets if they consume a large amount, so be careful and do your own research before growing them if you have a cat or dog.

One of the most common reasons rats enter gardens is if they smell food nearby and there are lots of messy areas for them to burrow without anyone noticing. If you plant rat deterrent plants, make sure that your garden is cleaned up without any rubbish or overgrown areas to prevent it from becoming an attractive place for rodents. 

Elizabeth said: “Regularly mowing grass, trimming bushes and removing weeds will reduce the adequate hiding places for rats to hide in your garden.”

She added: “Removing rat attractants from your garden will naturally deter them. Attractants include bird and pet food, compost, trash, fallen fruit and vegetables, faecal matter and water sources.”