Rats can cause problems both inside and outside, and often, it’s much harder to identify a rat problem in your garden than it is in your home.
Of course, seeing a rat in your garden with your own eyes is an explicit identifier of a rat problem.
However, just like mice, rats are notoriously covert when going about their tasks, so it isn’t common to see the rat itself. So instead, you can rely on these signs that are clear signals of a rat problem – bite marks, footprints and burrows.
According to the experts at Proof Pest Control, gardeners need to understand the aromas of plants these pests find repulsive to “deter them effectively”, leaving them “always scurrying away in search of more pleasant environments”.
1. Eucalyptus
Eucalyptus is a “powerful” scent that “rats find repulsive”. This aroma can be “highly effective in deterring rats” from infested areas.
The experts added: “The intense scent of eucalyptus overwhelms their sensitive noses, making it challenging for them to tolerate or approach areas with this scent.”
The strong aroma of the plant will take over the air, creating an environment that rats find highly displeasing and discouraging their presence.
Alternatively, gardeners can scatter eucalyptus leaves in these areas to achieve a similar effect.
2. Bay leaf plant
The leaves from this plant harbour a potent scent that rats find “highly displeasing”.
The overpowering aroma infiltrates their sensitive noses, acting as a “powerful deterrent”.
The pest control experts said: “Watch as these furry intruders will always scurry away, freeing your space from their mischievous presence.”
3. Peppermint
Rats may have a perceptive sense of smell, but “they can’t stand” the refreshing scent of peppermint.
This natural and aromatic repellent “works wonders” in deterring these unwanted pests. You can create a rat-free zone with the power of peppermint plants or oil.
The experts said: “The refreshing fragrance that delights humans becomes an unwelcome assault on the delicate noses of rats, driving them away.”
