7 Herbs & Plants That Repel Rats And Mice

Are there plants that deter rats and mice? Yes. We’ll be looking at some herbs that repel these rodent species.

Wherever you live, one of several pest issues you’re likely to deal with at some point includes rodent infestations.

They cause a lot of damage to properties, including posing health risks to humans and pets.

The most logical step to take has to do with finding ways to get rid of rats and mice.

7 Plants That Deter Rats And Mice

Now, there are tons of strategies for rat and mice control.

One of the most reliable has to do with the use of natural means to repel them. This is where rodent-repelling plants come into the picture.

Read on to find out more about such plants and how they repel these highly destructive pests.

Rodent Repelling Plants

Certain plants can be deployed for rodent control. These have or possess repelling properties saving you thousands of dollars in pest control costs.

Apart from getting rid of the problem, they serve as preventive measures to keep rats and mice from making a comeback.

These plants include Sage, Lavender, Mint, Onions & Garlic, Tomatoes, and Black Pepper.

Others include Rosemary, Marigolds, Grape, and Oregano.

We’ll be discussing how these plants repel rodents and how to use them as well as chime in on possible side effects.

1. Sage And Rodents

Apart from being an inexpensive, yet highly effective remedy for rat and rodent control, sage plants are easy to plant.

Sage possesses strong aromatic qualities which, though pleasant to humans can be overwhelming for rodents. Sage belongs to the herb family of plants.

However complex your infestation problems are, this plant helps you gain back control.

• How Sage Repels Rats and Mice

Sage works to repel rodents through its pungent smell. Rats are known to avoid areas where these plants are.

This creates an invisible barrier that protects your property from damage.

Besides getting rid of the problem, sage helps with maintaining or protecting your surroundings from repeat infestations.

• How to Use Sage to Repel Rats and Mice

Keeping rats and mice at bay using this herb plant is only a matter of knowing what to do. You can either plant sage around your home as well as have them potted and placed close to entrances.

Potted plants can also be moved to the most vulnerable locations of the building to keep rodents out.

Sage leaves can be cut and scattered around entrances. Cracks must be sealed to ensure rodents don’t return after repelling them.

• Side Effects

While sage serves as an excellent remedy for rodent problems, it can also pose risks.

However, not much is known about such risks apart from the fact that allergies may result. This will require medical advice and treatment.

2. Does Lavender Repel Rats?

Lavender is among several plants with mice-repelling properties. Now, mice and rats don’t only cause damage in homes but also destroy particular plants such as vegetables. This is where lavender comes in handy.

This plant gives off a pungent smell that is disliked by rats and mice.

• How Lavender Plants Repel Rats and Mice

The strong scent given off by lavender, though pleasing to humans is detested by rodents. Using this advantage, you can save yourself the stress of applying costly rat extermination methods.

Lavender plants are easy to grow and tend to.

• How to Use Lavender Plants

Have as many lavender plants as necessary around your home. These can either be potted or planted on raised beds. Place them along with entryways or paths most frequented by these rodents.

For vegetable plants most affected by rodent activity, plant lavender around such plants.

• Lavender Side Effects

Irritations resulting from the use of lavender are uncommon. However, skin irritations or may result. When it does, seek medical advice as soon as you can.

3. Mint

Plants within the mint family have proven to be effective rodent repellents.

Such include catnip, spearmint, and peppermints among others. You should have these planted with other plants on your flowerbeds in addition to potting some.

• How Mint Works to Repel Rats and Mice

As an effective remedy for getting rid of rodent problems, it’s necessary to have an idea of what it does. This plant gives off a strong scent which though pleasant to humans, is overwhelming to rodents.

All you need to do is have these around rat and mice-infested areas. Such problems should be gone in no time.

• How to Use Mint

If you have an indoor herb garden you’ll love to protect from damage, you may want to consider adding some mint plants. The same applies to your home’s surroundings.

Having mint vegetation is likely to mark your home as unfavorable territory to rodents.

• Mint Side Effects

Do mint plants have a side effect? Yes, they may. This isn’t absolute. It all depends on the individual using it.

For some, skin irritations among others may occur. However, such isn’t frequent.

4. Onions and Garlic

Onions and garlic are popular food ingredients. Although different, we’ve included both because they possess similar properties and can also be grown in similar conditions.

These two plants can be used in several ways

• How it Works

Both rats and mice are very sensitive to smell. Plus, they hate the pungent scent of onions and garlic. The great thing is that such scents are pleasing to humans while rodents find them distressing.

It doesn’t matter whether these plants are fresh or not. It still achieves the same purpose.

• How to Use Onions and Garlic for Rodent Control

A puree of garlic can be made and applied to your home’s foundations. This should go a long way to keep rodents out. Having them planted around your garden should help in repelling rats and mice.

• Side Effects

Garlic and onions have rich nutritional value in addition to their rodent-repelling properties. So, do these have any side effects? Very little information is available on that. There may be allergies arising from eating these.

However, external use especially for repelling rodents has little to no side effects.

5. Tomatoes

Tomato plants are among known rodent-repelling plants that will give you the much-desired relief you seek.

Have these been planted around your garden and any other place having rodent issues? This plant can be used in several ways.

• How it Works

Tomato plants are avoided by rodents. However, this isn’t in every case. This plant gives off a smell rodents hate. If you’ve tried this option with no result, consider other options listed here.

• How to Use Tomato Plants for Rodent Control

One of these includes dispersing cut tomato plant leaves within the house. This serves to expel both rats and mice.

You can also have these planted along entryways or use companion planting techniques to protect other plants (such as vegetables) considered vulnerable to damage.

• Side Effects

There could be associated sided effects with tomato plant use. This could be due to allergies or irritations though this isn’t as common. Nevertheless, when such an allergy is noticed, consider seeking medical help.

6. Black Pepper

Black pepper is another plant that rats and mice will want to stay away from. It can be deployed in many ways. One of these includes taking advantage of the sensitive sense of smell possessed by rodents.

By sprinkling black pepper in any form whether ground or fresh, rodents considers such areas as being hostile thus keeping away.

• How it Works

Both black pepper plants and fruits irritate rodents. Rats and mice are attracted to food and will navigate their way using their sense of smell. However, when black pepper plants are introduced, rodents will perceive such territory as being hostile.

• How to Use

Plant black pepper around your garden to serve as an effective repellent to keep them (rodents) away from vegetables.

In its grounded form, black pepper can be sprinkled along and around infested areas to choke rats and mice. They get irritated by this and retreat to safety outside your property.

• Side Effects

Generally, black pepper is considered safe for use both as a food ingredient as well as a rodent repellent. You are unlikely to experience side effects with its use, but when you do, it’s important to seek medical advice.

7. Rosemary

Rosemary has been successfully tested on a wide range of pest issues including rats and mice. This plant has a strong aromatic quality which serves to irritate rodents while being perceived favorably by humans.

It also creates an unwelcoming atmosphere as rodents sniff around for possible food sources.

• How it Works

The scent emitted by a rosemary plant serves to keep rodents at bay. We earlier mentioned that rats and mice have a sensitive sense of smell and can pick up different scents from a distance.

Having rosemary planted near an infested area makes rodents very uncomfortable.

• How to Use

You can easily take back control of your home by planting rosemary along your home’s perimeter in addition to having it around entryways. These plants can be potted and relocated to areas having the most infestation.

• Side Effects

Aside from the dangers caused by improper ingestion of rosemary (which has no repelling effect on rodents when consumed), the rosemary plant poses little to no problem when used externally.

These are some of the many plants having rat and mice repelling properties. They are safe and effective in getting rid of the problem. Also, there are no adverse effects on the environment.