Plants that can help to repel mice & rats from your garden.

Mice & rats visit gardens to try to find seeds. If your garden is full of seed producing plants, vegetable beds & fruit trees whose fallen fruit is used as a food source then your garden is more likely to be visited rather than a garden with a lawn & without these other facilities.

Chrysanthemum – Flowers contain a combination of insecticidal compounds. The yellow centres of some varieties are laced with pyrethrin, the most important natural pesticide in the world. It is however safe for farmers to use. Dry the flowers & collect the substance.

Sambucus (Elderberry) – The extract from the fruit & bark may be toxic to mice & rats when eaten in large doses. Small mammals generally stay away from elderberries so it would be good to plant a hedge or border. Sambucus nigra (beautiful mahogany foliage) produces glycosides which are known for being dangerous but are also medicinally beneficial when applied in the correct doses. Avoid however if you have children or pets visiting your garden.

Narcissus (Daffodils) – Rodents dislike the strong fragrances which are attractive to pollinators. The bulbs are poisonous to many small, warm blooded animals like mice, squirrels, rats & voles. Plant bulbs around flower beds that are growing plants that are particularly susceptible to rodent damage. The bulbs could help to prevent mice from creating burrows. Unfortunately this only seems to be effective when the plants are in flower.

Mentha x piperita (Peppermint) – Pulegone & menthone are the scents producing phytochemicals in peppermint oil which can be used as a deterrent. It is eco friendly & cheap & an ethical option to use as it doesn’t kill them. Pick leaves & put them in the garden areas that you suspect are frequented by these rodents. You can also buy the extracted oil, mix with water & use as a repellent spray. The oils need to be released to be effective.