Rats will 'sprint from your garden' after smelling plant 'they hate'

Ratscan be the bane of a gardener's existence, especially during the summer when gardens are brimming with fresh crops and plants. These vermin not only munch on your produce but also litter your green space with droppings, carry diseases, and sneak into the sneakiest of spots.

To make matters worse, their breeding rate is astronomical. A single rat has a gestation period of just three weeks, can deliver up to 14 pups per litter, and a female may have as many as 10 litters a year – that's from one rat alone, reports the Express. Gardeners need pest control solutions that won't damage their plants, whilepet ownersrequire methods that are safe for their furry friends.

The plant - mint

One woman, at her wit's end with rats scurrying around her garden, sought advice on rat-repelling plants and eventually settled on mint. Sarah Hilton reached out on the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook group, posting: "I would like to plant some plants at the back of my shed and along my fence that I hope will deter the rat run that has clearly developed."

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She inquired about plants that could keep rats at bay, suitable for areas with both sun and shade, stressing the urgency due to the small size of her garden and the disturbance caused to her children by the rats in the evenings. In her previous, larger garden, she had simply let them be.

After some consideration, Sarah updated her post, revealing her choice: "I'm growing mint now. I heard online that rats despise them. My garden now smells of peppermint. I'll update you on whether it makes a difference. Possibly wishful thinking but it's an easy thing to try."

Sarah then shared another piece of good news: "The mint plants are working! I spotted some rats but as they got near the plants they couldn't run away fast enough."

Experts atTop Best Pest Servicesalso vouch for mint as a rat deterrent, explaining: "There's something special about mint. It provides a pleasurable scent, flavour, and sensation. Fortunately, this benefit is only applicable to humans and not pests - especially rats."

They elaborated on why rats detest the herb, saying: "For rats, the scent of mint is utterly revolting, just like other strong and overwhelming scents."

Highlighting the rodents' keen sense of smell, they noted that this trait typically aids them in locating food, but mint can be their undoing. They concluded: "Fortunately, mint, especially peppermint because of its higher mint content, is one of the best plants that repel rats."