Rats are more likely to come into gardens in November to begin preparing for winter which means they will chew on plants for food and dig up flowerbeds to create a shelter to nest. 

Getting rid of rats or mice as soon as you spot them is important as they breed incredibly quickly and carry diseases that can contaminate your garden soil. 

Many gardeners use poison to kill rodents but it is highly recommended not to try this unless consulting with a pest control professional as you can harm local wildlife, neighbourhood cats or even any beloved pets. 

Instead, James Neal, an expert from Neal Landscapes, has shared that a natural, yet very effective method to keeping rats away is to grow specialised plants around your property. 

James said: “Instead of using pesticides and potentially damaging products, why not consider incorporating some of these rodent and insect-repellent plants?”

Plants that will stop rats from coming into your garden 

Mole Plant

Mole plants, also known as caper spurge, are among the best plants to have in your garden to deter rats as they produce strong-smelling chemicals that rats cannot tolerate. 

Rats have incredibly sensitive noses and any plants with a strong scent can easily overwhelm them and make it difficult for them to stay in an area as the plant will mask the scent of food.

This plant also produces sap that will greatly irritate rats if they touch it so it will discourage them from not only chewing on this plant but also anything else growing in your garden. 

Mole plants are known to keep rats away, but as their name suggests, they will also deter any other rodents, such as mice or moles.

James said: “Molehills and mice droppings can transform your garden from a lovely, relaxing space into a pest-infested enclosure, so the use of Mole Plant is highly recommended. 

“Containing the ingredient, castor oil – a well-known mole repellent – makes this plant top of the list if these pesky creatures are visiting your garden.” 

Sage 

Sage can stop rats coming into gardens mainly due to its strong aroma which smells pleasant to humans but will be extremely unpleasant to rats. 

Not only does sage irritate rats but it produces oils that make their leaves taste bitter which will discourage rats from eating any plants or being able to nest near it. 

However, it is recommended to try having a herb patch in your garden as peppermint, lavender and rosemary can also keep rats away due to their strong scents. 

James said: “Much like basil and lavender, sage has a strong aroma which, while pleasant for humans, is overwhelming for rodents and bugs. 

“Most gardeners opt for placing sage around the plants that are being targeted, creating an effective yet hugely affordable barrier.

"And even better, sage is one of the more versatile plants, which means it will happily grow in any soil type so long as it is exposed to the sun.” 

Oregano 

Rats often come into gardens in autumn since more vegetables are ripe and ready to be harvested at this time of year which is why oregano is so useful to have planted near your crops. 

Oregano is popular to plant near vegetables as it has a potent fragrance which rats naturally hate but also has a spicy flavour that will discourage rats from eating any other plants nearby. 

Rats will associate bitter tastes with being poisonous which means they are likely to stay in your garden as they believe it is unsafe and holds no food for them. 

Oregano is not only a natural rodent replant but it also has natural antifungal properties which can help prevent many common plant diseases from contaminating your soil. 

James said: “Most gardeners opt for using oregano to shield garlic, onions and chives in particular, so it is most definitely a valuable addition to your vegetable patch. 

“Ideally, oregano should be homed in an area that sees at least 6 hours of sun a day and can receive a steady supply of moisture."