Some species of rodents may find refuge in gardens. These areas provide a haven and easy access to food supplies, such as plants and stored items. Plants, seeds, fruits, bulbs, and vegetables are vulnerable to rodent damage.
They can also spread parasites and diseases to humans and pets. Your garden will be less of a target for rodents if you take measures to eliminate their food and shelter sources.
The first step in keeping rodents out of your garden and from making it their home is to figure out what draws them there.
For example, marigolds, catmint, rosemary, crown imperials, oleander, salvia, and lavender are plants that can get rid of gophers. Use them to demarcate the edges of your garden beds, whether they contain vegetables or flower beds.
Squirrels may stay away from your garden if you plant alliums in flower form or as red onions, scallions or grow garlic. Bright daffodils appear in a rainbow of colors and keep away squirrels because of their bitter taste.
Signs of a rodent infestation in your garden?
Try to spot these telltale indicators:
- Droppings
Rodents like mice and rats leave behind unsightly droppings. The droppings of these rodents resemble little, dark grains of rice.
- Underground tunnels
Gophers, rats, and mice often dig underground tunnel networks with entrance and exit holes that are the same size.
A gopher mound is more obvious than a rodent mound because it is larger. The rodents’ tunnels make it easy to destroy plants without touching the surface.
- Overnight vanishing of plant life
Sometimes, sprouts, seedlings, and new plantings vanish without a trace. Some seem to be dragged underground. Rodents like gophers, mice, and rats can be particularly destructive to plants. They attack them from below by pulling at the roots or nibbling on the foliage.
- Mounds
Soil mounds serve as rat and gopher entrances.
- Rodents are all over the place
In addition to being a nuisance in your yard and garden, rats like scurrying along electricity lines at odd hours of the day. Rats can also be seen along the ground, so watch them near trees and fences.
Here are 7 plants that are pest deterrents.
- Daffodils
These well-liked spring flowers may have a sweet fragrance, but they are toxic to rodents. Planting daffodil bulbs around plants outside that attract rats can help, as can placing them around your house.
Because it has lycorine and other alkaloids, the whole plant is dangerous to eat, but the bulb is the most dangerous part.
Suddenly, the little rodents will start to vomit and have diarrhea. Just like you wouldn’t buy flowers if you had a dog or cat, you should keep these away from your indoor pets.
- Sage
This fragrant herb are delicious in pasta dishes. Both green and white sage have strong, unpleasant aromas that repel rats.
It’s easy to grow these plants at home; sprinkle the seeds in the ground, around your plants, and in any cracks or crevices you find. The strong odors should deter rats and mice.
Fresh sage can be grown in pots, in the garden, or purchased from a grocery store to be left outside. Nevertheless, you will always have a ready supply of your delectable dishes!
Cayenne, thyme, oregano, black pepper, and basil are all powerful herbs with strong aromas that may exist in most people’s spice racks.
- Mint
Mint plants also have a strong, pleasant odor that repels rodents. Mints, especially spearmint and peppermint, are typically very powerful. Growing these fragrant plants in your garden or indoors will help keep rodents at bay.
Another option is to soak cotton balls in peppermint essential oils. Then, place them in strategic locations throughout the house. You should remove them and put new ones in once the scent fades.
Alternatively, fill a spray bottle with a solution made from two teaspoons of peppermint oil and one cup of water. Finally, spray the homemade solution inside and outside your house, where rodents are a common problem.
- Lavender
This lovely purple plant has a pleasant aroma that spreads across the room. A lasting aroma is great for human comfort but drives rodents away. Consider planting some lavender in your garden or scattering a few stems around the base of the plants.
You can also keep pests away by putting small sachets of dried lavender in cracks and openings. Another option is to diffuse lavender essential oil or spray it around the house. The powerful perfume should be effective in keeping rodents away.
- Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums, another bright plant, also have a strong odor that repels rodents. The flowers have both efficient repellents and insecticidal chemicals, some of which are also poisonous.
Due to their widespread appeal, you can purchase these blooms at any gardening or home improvement store for use in your yard or house.
Chrysanthemums, once again, are harmful to dogs and cats. Keep pets away lest they ingest one and have unpleasant side effects like drooling, vomiting, and diarrhea.
- Citronella or lemongrass
Lemongrass is a tropical grass-like plant with a distinctively citrusy aroma. It is extremely off-putting to rodents like rats and mice.
Lemongrass plants are most effective when grown or kept in a pest-free outdoor environment. The citronella odor, which you can use freely all over the house, repels mice and rats to a similar extent.
Even if you don’t have room for actual lemongrass plants in your backyard, you can still benefit from citronella by using citronella spray or candles.
When you mix the oil from lemongrass extract with other essential oils, it will be much better at keeping rodents away. For example, citronella and lemongrass are the most popular natural repellents.
How to keep rodents out of your garden
The first step in coming up with a plan to get rid of the rodents that are hurting your plants is to figure out what kind of rodents they are. These questions can help you zero in on the correct rodent:
Can you see a burrow that has a small entrance?
How easy is it to locate the entrance? Is there a water supply close to the burrow? If yes, you’re most likely having a Norway rat infestation. These rats typically dig their burrows in the ground next to secure shelters like garages or sheds.
Is plant material, particularly fruit scraps, vanishing from your compost pile?
Mice are probably wreaking havoc on your compost bin. Opossums and numerous other wildlife species also consume compost pile contents.
Are they eating seeds from the ground without disturbing the soil surface?
There’s a chance you’re dealing with rodents like rats and mice.
Do you notice any mounds in your yard?
If you answered yes, then you have either moles or gophers. The eastern mole builds mounds in a cone, while the pocket gopher creates mounds like a circle or heart.
Stop rodents before they mess your garden
After you have spent countless hours carefully tending to your garden, the last thing you want to worry about is an infestation of rodents that will destroy everything you have worked so hard for.
By taking steps to keep rodents out of your garden be it by using DIY scarecrows or otherwise, you can keep it productive all year long.
If you think you have a rodent problem on your property, the safest thing to do is to call a professional pest controller to look at the problem and deal with it properly.