Rats can be a huge problem in UK gardens, but a simple kitchen staple could be the solution. Experts at Epic Gardening and Buzz Boss advocate onions as a natural deterrent. Lorin Mielsen at Epic Gardening noted that onions possess a pungent scent and that rats "hate them". Simply place an onion where you suspect the rats are entering, and "they will take one smell and run out of your garden".
Why Onions Work
The specialists at Buzz Boss declared that onions are a "cooking staple that's a nemesis of rats". They explained: "It's a powerful rat repellent because of its pungent smell and taste. Onion contains sulphur compounds that irritate the eyes and nose (of rats, too) and allicin, which can cause anaemia and oxygen deprivation in rats if ingested."
With this technique, it's vital to replace the onion every few days, or it will rot. Alternatively, consider planting garlic around the edges of your garden beds. This method tends to repel a wide range of pests, not just rodents.
Other Prevention Tips
Rats are often attracted to gardens because they provide everything these rodents require to thrive - food, water, and shelter. Fallen fruit, vegetable patches, compost bins, and bird feeders serve as convenient food sources, while dense shrubs, sheds, and wood piles provide secure hiding places. Brown Rats carry many nasty diseases which they can spread to humans, normally through their urine, including Leptospirosis or Weil's disease, Salmonella, Listeria, Toxoplasma gondii and Hantavirus. They can also inflict a great amount of structural damage.
Stop feeding birds if you suspect rats are visiting your garden and secure chicken runs. Store bird and other animal food in secure containers. If you notice any rodents in your garden, you must take swift action to get rid of them.
Growing Your Own Deterrent
Nevertheless, the specialists at Buzz Boss recommend growing onions in your garden to guarantee a generous supply. Onions are a cool-season crop that can be grown from seeds, sets, or transplants. They flourish in full sunlight and fertile, moist soil. Harvesting can be carried out once the bulbs have fully matured and the tops start to turn yellow and fall over.
