Warm weather means more time spent entertaining outdoors – but not every garden guest is welcome. Rats can quickly become a problem, so it pays to spot the warning signs early. Alongside keeping your garden tidy, one everyday kitchen staple could help make it far less inviting to rodents.
Can garlic really keep rats out of your garden?
Garlic is best known for adding flavour to your cooking, but it could also help make your garden less attractive to rats. It contains allicin, a naturally occurring compound responsible for its pungent smell, which rodents are thought to dislike.
‘Rodents rely heavily on their sense of smell to detect food and danger, an overpowering scent like garlic signals that an area is unsafe and discourages them’, explains Daniel Steward, managing director at Shield Pest Control.
While garlic can be a useful natural deterrent, it works best as part of a wider rat-proofing strategy rather than a standalone fix. Pair it with good garden maintenance – such as removing food sources, securing bins and clearing potential nesting spots – for the best chance of keeping rodents away.
5 signs rats could be visiting your garden
Before you reach for the garlic, it's worth checking whether rats are actually visiting your garden. These are the tell-tale signs experts say to look out for.
Droppings: Small, dark droppings around sheds, bins, decking or bird feeders are one of the clearest signs of activity. Fresh droppings are usually dark and shiny, while older ones become lighter and drier.
Gnaw marks: Rats constantly gnaw to keep their teeth worn down, so look out for chew marks on sheds, fencing, garden furniture and plant pots.
Burrows and runs: Rats often dig burrows beneath sheds, decking or dense planting and create well-worn paths through long grass that they use repeatedly.
Nesting materials: Shredded grass, leaves or paper gathered together in sheltered spots may indicate a nearby nest.
Plant damage: Chewed stems, roots, and fruit and vegetables can also be a sign that rats have been feeding in your garden.
How to use garlic in your garden
If you've spotted signs of rats, try sprinkling garlic powder around the areas they're most likely to use, including sheds, fence lines, bins, decking and potential entry points.
‘Plant garlic around the edges of the garden, near doors and borders, it helps create a scent barrier that discourages rats from coming near in the first place,’ says Daniel.
Top tip: Reapply garlic powder regularly, especially after rain, as its scent will fade over time.
Alternatives to garlic
There are several other natural scents that may help make your garden less appealing to rats.
Peppermint oil: Soak cotton wool balls in peppermint oil and place them where you’ve noticed activity, or mix a few drops with water to create a DIY spray.
Lavender: Plant lavender around borders or use a lavender-scented spray to introduce a fragrance rats may avoid.
Cinnamon: Sprinkle ground cinnamon around sheds, bins, decking and other areas where rats are likely to travel.
Vinegar: Mix equal parts vinegar and water, then spray it around problem areas to create a strong-smelling scent barrier.
Mint and rosemary: Plant these aromatic herbs around sheds, doorways and garden borders to help make the area less inviting to rats.
Other ways to make your garden less attractive to rats
Natural deterrents work best alongside good garden maintenance. Remove food, water and shelter, and your garden will be far less appealing to rodents.
Use bird feeders with catch trays to reduce spilled seed, keep compost and rubbish bins securely closed, and avoid leaving pet food or food scraps outdoors.
Seal any gaps around sheds, doors and your home's foundations, as rats can squeeze through surprisingly small openings. Finally, keep lawns mown, hedges trimmed and clutter to a minimum to reduce hiding and nesting spots.
When to call in the experts
Natural deterrents can help prevent rats, but they won't solve an established infestation. If you're regularly spotting rats or fresh signs of activity, it's best to act quickly, as rodents breed rapidly and can cause property damage as well as posing health risks.
If the problem persists or becomes difficult to manage, Daniel recommends contacting a professional pest control service to assess the infestation and put effective control measures in place.
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