How do you get rid of rats in the garden?

They're everywhere, they're numerous, intelligent and gluttonous... they're rats! If you've got an outdoor space, chickens or a simple compost heap, you've probably already come across a long tail scurrying around. As much as we love animals, rats are unfortunately carriers of disease and have no equal when it comes to feasting on human crops, so we need to find effective, natural solutions to scare them away. Follow our comprehensive guide to keeping rats out of your home!

The cat, a great ally in the vegetable garden

If you love felines, don't hesitate to adopt one to assist you in the vegetable garden. This born predator is cut out to hunt rats and any other animal that ventures onto your land. The cat, master of its domain, will keep rodents at bay by its mere presence.

Ultrasound, an ecological and effective solution

Human hearing is far from being able to pick up all the sounds around it rats, on the other hand, have very fine hearing, able to pick up frequencies of up to 40,000 hertz. But how can we exploit this characteristic to combat rats? By using an ultrasound device! This method is highly effective and completely painless for the animals, which will simply flee. Another strong point of this technique is that it doesn't bother pets such as dogs or cats in the slightest.

The good old catch trap

These rodents are known for their voracity and incredible greed. They'll be unable to resist the lure of a piece of cheese in their path. Use this characteristic with a classic trap, i.e. a cage fitted with an automatic closing mechanism. Place some food in it (rats like grains, fresh meat, fruit and, strangely enough, peanut butter). All you have to do is wait for a rodent to fall into your trap, then transport it to another natural area far from your home. We said far away, because rats have an excellent memory and would be able to find their way back to your vegetable garden.

Clean your exterior regularly

Two essential elements will make your garden particularly attractive to rats: the food available and the numerous hiding places. Food crumbs you may leave after a meal on your patio, fruit from a tree left on the ground, bins left outside are all invitations to your banquet. Make sure you keep the outside clean and free of all traces of food.

Like any animal, rats are attracted to places where they can find something to eat. If you want to avoid rats in your garden, it's not only necessary to put in place certain repellents, but also not to make them want to come and stay with you.

A cluttered, untidy garden littered with logs, tools or lockers represents so many potential homes for a rat. Tidy up your garden meticulously and remember that a perfectly uncluttered area is not at all welcoming to these intelligent creatures. So make sure you keep a clean and tidy exterior.

Invite selected flowers into the vegetable garden

There are certain varieties of plant known for their ability to repel rodents thanks to their scent. The list goes on and on, and can also be used to ward off moles. Depending on the climate in your region, you can choose from this list of plants, which we invite you to plant en masse throughout your garden and particularly in your vegetable patch.

• Imperial crown
  
• Imperial firtillary
  
• Cuphorbia
  
• Epurge
  
• Incarvilla
  
• Souci
  
• Daffodil
  
• Jacinth
  
• Scilla
  
• Ricin
  
• Onion
  
• Garlic
  
• Mint
  
• Street
  
• Melilots

You can also spread black elder purin or castor oil cake on the ground, which, in addition to its toxic effect on rodents, will fertilise your soil. Now you've got everything you need to get rid of those nosy rodents! And what about you? What are your natural tricks for dealing with these ingenious creatures?