How to get rid of rats in the garden?

They are everywhere, they are numerous, intelligent and gluttonous... rats! If you have an outdoor area, chickens or a simple compost, you have certainly already come across a long tail scurrying around. While we love animals, rats are unfortunately carriers of disease and have no equal when it comes to eating human crops, so it's important to find effective and natural solutions to scare them away. Follow our complete 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 help you in the vegetable garden. This born predator is cut out to chase away rats and any other animal that ventures onto your land. The cat, master of its domain, will keep rodents at a distance by its mere presence.

Ultrasound, an ecological and efficient solution

Human hearing is far from being able to pick up all the sounds that surround it, but rats, on the other hand, have very fine hearing that can pick up frequencies of up to 40,000 hertz. But how can this characteristic be used to fight rats? By using an ultrasound device! This method is very effective and completely painless for the animals, which will simply flee. Another strong point of this technique is that it does not bother pets such as dogs or cats at all.

The good old catch trap

These rodents are known for their voracity and incredible greed. They will be unable to resist the lure of a piece of cheese in their path. Use this feature with a classic trap, i.e. a cage equipped with an automatic closing mechanism. You will place 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, and 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 outside regularly

Two essential elements will make your garden particularly attractive to rats: the food available and the numerous hiding places. Crumbs left on your patio after a meal, fruit from a tree left on the ground, garbage cans left outside are all invitations to your banquet. Be sure to keep your exterior clean and free of food.

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

A messy, untidy garden littered with logs, tools and lockers is a potential home for a rat. Keep your garden tidy and remember that a perfectly clear yard is not at all welcoming to these intelligent creatures. So make sure you keep your exterior clean and tidy.

Invite selected flowers into the garden

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

• Imperial wreath
  
• Imperial Fritillary
  
• Cuphorbia
  
• Spurge
  
• Incarvillea
  
• Marigold
  
• Daffodil
  
• Hyacinth
  
• Scilla
  
• Castor oil
  
• Onion
  
• Garlic
  
• Mint
  
• Street
  
• Sweet clover

You can also spread black elderberry or castor oil on the ground which, in addition to its toxic effect on rodents, will fertilize your soil. You now have all the cards in hand to make these rodents a little too curious go away! What about you? What are your natural tricks for dealing with these ingenious creatures?