I'm a gardening expert and I've got four simple, cheap and effective ways to deter rats from coming in your garden | The Sun

IF you are fed up with rats coming into your garden, you’ve come to the right place.

Rats are considered vermin by the majority of people, so it's no wonder they are one of the most hated of garden pests. 

If they are unwelcome visitors in your garden, fear not, we've got just the thing for you.

Here are four simple hacks that you can use to not only get rid of rats from your garden, but to deter them from entering again. 

While the most common way to get rid of rats is to use rat poison and traps, these are toxic and may pose danger to wildlife, pets and humans. 

Instead, gardening experts at Primrose have shared four natural, yet “effective” ways to get rid of rats in gardens for good.

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Essential oils

According to the exports, rats have “one of the best senses of smell in the animal kingdom”, trumping that of dogs. 

They explained: “When used in concentration, essential oils can do wonders to effectively deter rats from your garden due to their potency. 

“Peppermint oil, citronella and eucalyptus essential oils in their pure form are all smells that rats will dislike. “

Simply leave a few drops of these oils around the areas you know the rats have been and this should do the trick. 

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Hot pepper 

This one might come as a surprise, but rats are repelled by spicy seasonings such as hot pepper.

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The gardening pros said: “Rats’ high sense of smell means they can't stand hot pepper or anything very spicy so it will deter them forever.

“You can make your own homemade natural rat repellent spray with cayenne pepper or chilli flakes.”

To make this repellent spray, simply mix cayenne pepper or chilli flakes with water and heat the mixture vigorously to infuse the chilli.

Then allow it to cool – the longer you leave it, the more potent the chilli will be. 

Block off potential shelter

Another way to get rid of rats is to block off any potential shelter.

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Rats make home under existing structures, such as garden buildings and decking, so to prevent this, block entry to areas beneath these. 

The experts advised: “Before you do this, ensure there are no rats living underneath the structure you are blocking off, as they will die an unpleasant death. 

“Have a general clear up in your garden, getting rid of any debris and cutting back overgrown vegetation. This will provide rats with less cover. 

“Rats are neophobic, and this disruption of their territory will confuse them and encourage them to make home elsewhere.”

Remove food sources

Finally, rats are attracted to gardens because they contain food sources. 

There are many simple steps you can take to ensure your garden stops being so attractive to rats. 

The experts concluded: “Compost bins are a treasure trove to rats. 

“Ensure your compost bin is secure and move it away from possible routes of access, such as fences and walls.”

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And if you’re a fan of birds, it's important that you have a squirrel-proof bird feeder, to deter the pests. 

The pros suggested: “A squirrel-proof bird feeder will block off rats, and using no-mess seed mix will ensure there is no discarded food left on the floor that may attract rats.”

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