Repulsive plants will put rats off invading your home and stop them coming back

Rats not only frequent but can also infiltrate homes, creating significant issues for owners.

These rodents are a hygiene hazard as they may carry various parasites and diseases. To counter rat infestations without resorting to traps, pest control expert Jordan Foster from suggests planting specific herbs that rats find utterly "repulsive" and "offensive".

Jordan says: "There is no doubt rats are smart. They're good at hiding until it's too late." He further adds: "Rats usually get into your garden because it's an excellent place to hide and a constant food source."

READ MORE:

Jordan advises that dealing with these pests once they've settled might require serious control measures or professional assistance. Nevertheless, certain plants can deter them; mint and garlic are particularly effective. Mint's aroma is considered "very offensive" to rats, so scattering it around the garden can be an "excellent" repellent strategy, reports .

Similarly, placing mint indoors, on sunny and warm kitchen windowsills, can work wonders. Moreover, the scent of garlic is "repulsive" to rats, potentially making them reconsider their intrusion. As Jordan puts it: "Try squirting garlic water down a rat burrow. Rats rely on their sense of smell to find food and avoid dangerous situations like predators or something repulsive.

"Imagine that one of our favourite smells, lavender, can have quite the opposite effect on rats. It can keep them from finding food because of its potent smell. Place it around decks, garden structures, and around the perimeter of your yard where rats might be attracted.

"Create a border of herbs like basil, thyme, and echinacea around the outside of your garden. If the rats smell them, they'll think your place has nothing to offer and run to your neighbour, who probably doesn't have a 'repulsive' border around the garden."

While using plants will help to deter them, ultimately, gardens need to be clutter-free which won't be inviting for the rats, and this includes the lawn. Make sure the grass is cut short heading into the winter months so rats can't hide in it as well as storing any compost and wood off the ground.