Rats will turn and run from garden if you plant one thing they hate

If you've spotted unwelcome visitors scurrying through your garden, there's a natural, chemical-free way to send them packing - and it starts with a simple plant. According to UK wildlife experts at Ark Wildlife, certain strong-smelling herbs and flowers are highly effective at repelling rats, who rely heavily on scent to navigate and avoid danger.

The best part of this is that these deterrents are completely natural, safe for pets, and even pleasant for humans. The top plant that rats hate is mint, and it is fairly simple and useful to keep a mint plant around.

"Rats don't like certain scents that we humans may enjoy," said a spokesperson for Ark Wildlife.

They added: "So planting to deter rats is an effective, natural and safe way to keep them out of your garden."

Alongside mint, other pungent kitchen staples such as garlic, onions, sage, and fennel can help to drive away rodents.

Rats find the strong oils and aromas overwhelming and will avoid nesting or feeding in areas where these plants are growing.

But it's not just herbs that work wonders. Certain flowering plants also double as natural repellents, and they'll even brighten up your borders in the process.

Lavender, marigolds, catnip, and chrysanthemums all give off smells that rats dislike. These can be especially effective when planted along the edges of your garden or around compost bins and sheds, where rats might be tempted to set up home.

Ark Wildlife also recommends taking things a step further.

They said: "You can increase the rat deterrence by crushing the plants as you walk by and dropping cuttings onto rat runs and in their holes."

This releases more of the plant's natural oils and intensifies the deterrent effect.

Unlike traps or poisons, this method is environmentally friendly, humane, and easy to incorporate into your garden routine. Plus, many of these plants also deter other pests like aphids and mosquitoes, making them a win-win for green-thumbed homeowners.

So if you're tired of rats taking over your garden, it might be time to get gardening and let nature do the work.