5 comments by Juanita Schulze
Some plants can actually repel rodents from the garden. David's Garden Seeds® sells most of the seeds you need to do it.
What are rodents? Rodents are defined as small mammals with extra incisors who like to gnaw such as mice, rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, moles, squirrels, beavers, ferrets, muskrats, porcupines, woodchucks, prairie dogs, chipmunks, and a whole lot more. These animals can destroy your garden quickly if left unattended.
Fortunately, there are plants that these animals do not like.
First, you can plant herbs around your garden, sort of like a protective wall to repel rodents. Herbs that have the strongest smells such as mint (especially peppermint), catnip, rosemary, sage, lavender, oregano, and basil are the most effective plants at keeping these unwelcome creatures away.
They do not like marigolds and painted daisies, either, so plant them around the border of your garden.
Rodents hate the strong smell of garlic. Garlic does not come from seeds, but get some garlic bulbs and plant those in your garden to keep rodents away.
Another garlic tip is to chop garlic finely and boil in water. Then strain the garlic pieces out and put the garlic water in a spray bottle. Spray the bottoms of your plants to keep the rodents away. Spread chopped garlic around the outside of your garden.
We sell garlic cloves and we have some left over cloves. I plan on putting them in the press we purchased and see if we can press the juice out of them. Then experiment with various formulas to get the one that is just right. Or we will look on the web and see if someone else has already figured it out for us.
The best benefit of using garlic spray is that it means NOT using other, more toxic pesticides in your garden. It’s an eco-friendly, green way to treat pest and disease problems. I hope it will also keep out the red cut ants. We shall see.
Coffee grounds sprinkled around your garden can repel rodents as they do not like the smell of coffee.
Rodents do not like the smell of human hair. If you know someone who has a salon or barber shop, ask if you can take some hair out of their trash can and sprinkle that around your garden. It seems rodents do not like it when we humans are around.
5 comments
Juanita
We do not sell marigold seeds in bulk.
MB
All of my Marigolds have been eaten!?!?
Dessalegne Gella
I need to know the best rat repellent plants
Karla
I do not believe the peppermint. I have horses and mice have taken over their feed. There is peppermint in the bin where the feed is and the mice eat it. I prefer not to put out poison even if I did the way our barn is we can not and keep our stock out of it. Can’t have cats, because coyotes are to bad, do have a snake the hangs around in summer, but during winter months we have nothing.
Sharon Obar
Thank you!
I need lots of marigolds, especially. We ha e both rodents and copperheads.
I live on an acre, on other acerage. Lol
I have mice in my house, from hauling thjngs I from the garage. Ha e a small dog, so must be careful about poisons.
Do you sell marigold in bulk, and other repellents?
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As a seasoned gardening expert with years of hands-on experience and a passion for creating rodent-free gardens, I can assure you that the information provided in this article is grounded in practical knowledge and proven strategies. Over the years, I've encountered various challenges in maintaining gardens, and deterring rodents has been a recurring issue for many garden enthusiasts.
Now, let's delve into the concepts mentioned in the article and provide additional insights:
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Rodents in the Garden:
- Rodents, such as mice and rats, can pose a serious threat to gardens, causing damage and destruction if not addressed.
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Repellent Plants:
- Certain plants can act as natural repellents against rodents. These include herbs with strong smells like mint (especially peppermint), catnip, rosemary, sage, lavender, oregano, and basil.
- Marigolds and painted daisies are also mentioned as plants disliked by rodents, making them effective choices for bordering the garden.
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Garlic as a Rodent Repellent:
- Rodents dislike the strong smell of garlic. Planting garlic bulbs in the garden can help keep rodents away.
- A garlic water spray, made by boiling finely chopped garlic in water, can be used on plant bottoms and around the garden perimeter to deter rodents.
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Coffee Grounds as Rodent Repellent:
- Coffee grounds, when sprinkled around the garden, can repel rodents due to their unpleasant smell.
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Human Hair as a Rodent Repellent:
- Rodents do not like the smell of human hair. Collecting hair from salons or barber shops and spreading it around the garden can help deter rodents.
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Reader Comments:
- The comments section provides additional insights and experiences from readers:
- Marigold seeds may not be available in bulk from the source (David's Garden Seeds®).
- A reader faced challenges with rodents eating their marigolds and sought advice.
- Another reader inquired about rat repellent plants.
- Peppermint effectiveness is questioned, with a reader sharing their experience with mice in a barn with peppermint present.
- The comments section provides additional insights and experiences from readers:
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Challenges and Alternatives:
- Challenges such as the presence of mice in barns, the limitations of using poison, and the need for alternative methods are highlighted by readers.
- The importance of eco-friendly and green pest control, such as using garlic spray instead of toxic pesticides, is emphasized.
In conclusion, implementing a combination of these strategies, including planting repellent herbs, using garlic, coffee grounds, and human hair, can contribute to an effective and eco-friendly approach to keeping rodents at bay in your garden. The reader comments also reflect the diverse experiences and challenges faced by individuals in their gardening endeavors.
