Some gardeners and homeowners swear by peppermint oil as a rat repellent, but there’s no hard evidence to support this. There is decent evidence that pepper spray repels animals like rabbits and deer, but less so regarding its effectiveness against rats.
Catnip’s flowers attract bees, which benefit your veggie garden, and its leaves can be harvested and used to make a soothing herbal tea.
Rats may be able to climb over the fence, so choose a fence that is at least 1 ft (30 cm) high. They can also tunnel beneath fences, so bury it at least 3 in (7. 6 cm) underground. Make sure there are no gaps in the fencing the entire way around your garden. If there’s a gap, rats will find it![5] X Expert Source Hussam Bin BreakPest Control Professional Expert Interview. 28 June 2019. Even the best fencing setup may not be able to stop rats completely. They are crafty and determined creatures.
If you have potted plants and pieces of garden decor, for example, you might move them around the garden every month or so during the growing season.
However, catching rats may expose your pet to illnesses or infections. Even worse, if your pet catches a rat that has recently eaten poison, it may be poisoned as well. If your garden creates an otherwise welcoming rat environment, the regular appearance of a dog or cat probably won’t be enough to keep the rats away. Your pet might also cause damage to your veggie garden on its own!
Look for a plug-in, battery-powered, or solar-powered sonic rodent repellers online or at home improvement stores. Keep in mind, though, that there’s no solid evidence that they work.
Basically, keep your vegetable garden as uncluttered as possible. Grow the veggies you want and cut back on decorative-only plantings and other unnecessary stuff.
Rats are omnivores that require protein and fat sources. If they can’t find these near your veggie garden, they’ll probably move elsewhere.
Don’t, for instance, keep a birdbath near your veggie garden. In addition to rats, standing water may also bring mosquitoes to your garden.
If you insist on mulching, use a thin layer of dense wood chips, not a fluffy straw material. Or, use gravel as a mulching material.
Also, whenever you do harvest or otherwise tend to your garden, pick up anything that has already fallen to the ground. Use harvesting guides that are specific to the veggies you’re growing and your climate zone.
Birdseed or other wild animal food is especially scattered on the ground. Use bird feeders and move them away from your veggie garden. Bagged, served, or uneaten pet food. Move this out of the area and clean up spills and uneaten food as soon as possible. Household trash. Use a sturdy trash can with a secure lid and keep it out of the area of your garden. Pet droppings. Yes, rats will sometimes snack on dog poop!
Round holes in the soil about 2–3 in (5. 1–7. 6 cm) in diameter. These are the entry holes to the rats’ tunnels, which can extend for several feet/meters. Cylindrical droppings about 0. 5 in (1. 3 cm) long. Greasy markings along walls, curbs, or garden borders. Rats leave scent markers along straight pathways against walls and similar structures—these pathways are called “rat runs. ”
Licensed pest control professionals can use poisons and traps that may not be accessible to you and have the knowledge to use them safely. They also have expertise in placing deterrents effectively and safely, as well as in making your garden less hospitable to rats.
If the poison or trap is accessible to anything larger than a rat, don’t use it. It may be illegal to put out rodent poison, even in an enclosed bait station, where you live.
Don’t try to make safety enclosures yourself. Instead, buy traps or poison blocks that come pre-enclosed in secure containers. Look for them at home centers or online.
