Rats are more active in August as it coincides with their breeding season, making encounters in gardens more likely. Leaving certain items outside can attract them, so it pays to be mindful about what you store outdoors.
Why Compost and Firewood Under Decking Attract Rats
Spare bags of soil and compost are often tucked away under decking to keep patios neat. According to Allan Jeffrey, gardening expert at Ultra Decking, this is one of the most common ways homeowners unknowingly invite pests.
Compost bags are packed with organic material and hold moisture, creating the warm, damp environment that rats and mice look for when nesting. Ants and soil-dwelling insects are also drawn to these conditions, and once pests settle in, problems typically multiply.
Essential Tips for Preventing Pest Infestations
Allan recommends a straightforward approach to deter pests:
- Elevate and ventilate: Keep compost bags and firewood on a raised platform at least one to two metres from the house and any wooden structures. Proper airflow stops moisture accumulating and makes the area less attractive to pests.
- Switch to sealed bins: If space is limited, transfer compost into sturdy plastic bins with secure clip-on lids, which are harder for rodents and insects to breach.
- Carry out a 60-second inspection: Grab a torch and look beneath decking for telltale signs like shredded plastic, small entry holes, or dark droppings.
Spotting things early is often the difference between a straightforward tidy-up and an expensive pest control call-out.
Expert Advice on How to Keep Rodents Out
Allan concluded: "Nesting rats are a big problem. Their numbers grow quickly, and they'll soon start gnawing through garden structures like your decking, your fencing and that kind of damage doesn't come cheap."
Firewood presents another risk. "Those storing leftover winter logs under their decking are also at risk," he added. "Timber that's picked up moisture over winter is the perfect hiding place for wood-boring insects, and that's when the real damage starts."
If you think rats may be lurking nearby, contact a pest control expert for advice.
