Seeing a rat scurrying around your garden is never pleasant. Not only do these pesky rodents chew up plants, but they are known to carry diseases in their droppings which can contaminate soil. 

A lot of people reach for poison or chemical baits as soon as they spot a rat, but not only are these methods cruel but they are more likely to harm foxes, neighbourhood cats and other local animals. 

Toby Bateson, a pest control expert from Hammer Technologies, has shared that getting rid of a rat infestation in gardens can be tricky but is best done through natural and safe methods. 

He said: “If you have trouble with rats and rodents it can be a nightmare trying to get rid of them. They are hardy and resilient, determined to find food or shelter in your garage or garden.”

According to Toby, one of the most effective ways to keep rats away is by growing “rat repellant plants” which are known to greatly irritate these pests as they make a garden much less attractive to them. 

What plants to grow in your garden to keep rats away 

Herbs

Many herbs are easy to grow in containers and have strong pungent smells which humans love but will be overwhelming for rats. 

Toby said: “Sage, pepper, oregano and cayenne will help to keep them at bay. Herbs can be sprinkled on soil or around entry points. The strong smell might help to keep them away.” 

Herbs will disrupt the familiar scents in a garden for rats, which makes it more difficult to search for food and makes the area less hospitable for them to burrow. 

One of the best herbs to grow in gardens is mint not only does it have a strong sharp odour but it also contains menthol, which is highly irritating for rodents so they will go out of their way to avoid it. 

Toby said: “Mint is often mentioned as a rat repellent. Many sites on the internet describe it used in various ways to deter rodents, particularly from houses.”

Flowers

If you are looking to keep your garden looking beautiful then it is best to plant either marigolds or lavender, as these pretty flowers contain extracts that act as a natural repellent. 

Lavender contains essential oils that rats cannot stand but they also have a highly fragrant scent, which works to mask scents rats find attractive in the garden and make the area less appealing for them to burrow. 

Marigolds contain pyrethrins which are known to repel and kill pest insects such as aphids and flies but are also unappealing to rats. Rats will automatically be weary of eating anything in a garden as they will assume other plants may be poisonous due to the marigold’s bitter taste. 

Toby said: “Daffodils will keep rats away in the spring and they don't like marigolds or lavender either.”

Daffolfils also contain compounds that are toxic to rats but these pretty yellow flowers only bloom in springtime so will be ineffective to plant at this time of year in summer. 

Other flowers which rats hate are chrysanthemums and nasturtiums as both also have a horrible taste which can put off rats from eating anything else in a garden. 

Vegetables 

Late summer is often a time rats are most active as they will likely be scavenging for food, but having either garlic or tomatoes in a garden can help make your garden less appealing for them. 

Toby said: “Garlic has a strong sulphurous smell which rodents and many other pests do not like. Garlic cloves can be mixed with boiling water and the water then be placed into a spray bottle to spray around the house. They also do not like tomato plants.”

Garlic naturally has a potent smell which rats will hate as it can impact their ability to navigate an area while ripening tomatoes have a strong acidic smell rats find uncomfortable.

Tomatoes also contain tomatine, a compound which can be toxic to rats if they eat it in high quantities. Tomatoes will not repel rats on their own but will make a garden unappealing as rats will assume that all food in an area is unappealing or potentially poisonous.