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February 14, 2011 by Mandy Maxwell 18 Comments
Ask the Expert: What plants repel mice and rats? -Joy
Flower Shop Network’s Plant Expert Reply: There are many plants that have pest repelling properties. You might try planting these in or around your home to keep the mice away: any type of mint, amaryllis, sweet pea, lavender, daffodils, wood hyacinth (or squill), grape hyacinth, alliums, catnip, camphor plant, elderberry, euphorbias, and wormwood.* Oak and bay leaves are also known to repel rodents. Planting any of these outside your home is a good way to deter mice and rats from coming into your house. You may also make sachets out of the leaves of some of these plants to use in drawers and closets, especially mint, bay and lavender.
Flower Shop Network has not tested these, but they are known to work.
You might also like: Plants for Pest Repellent That Actually Work!
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Filed Under: Plant Suggestions Tagged With: Allium, Daffodils, natural repellents, Sweet Pea
Comments
Sonia says: April 11, 2016 at 1:10 pm
Mint doesn’t repel rodents, its the first thing they eat on my balcony. The peppermint and other types of mint were eaten completely.
- Jennifer Ervin says:
June 27, 2016 at 1:11 am
My garden nothing but mint but one mouse mints as her nest. I am depressing! Don’t know how to get rid of them. I’m afraid of mice so trap then I will have to see them. I have no one do that for me. They are came from open sew of the city of Huntington beach so no one can catch all of them for good. I was thinking to get brazo
wires to bar around my yard. My back yard is private so won’t hurt others neighbors pets. - Rachel Brantley says:
Jennifer,
Here are some other options to repel rodents. Drip up to to 4-5 drops of the suggested repellent below on a cotton ball, then place it in those spots where rats appear more often.
1. Peppermint Oil (by Now Foods)
2. Vitacost 100% Pure Peppermint Oil (by Vitacost Brand)
3. Mouse Away Concentrate (by SomaTherapy)
4. Bonide 12-Pack Mouse Magic Pest Repellents (by Bonide)
5. Critter Out Mouse & Rat Repellent (by Critter Out)
I’m surprised that your mint isn’t doing the job but hopefully this will help. - Danielle Harris says:
April 22, 2017 at 12:34 pm
I’m only asking. Is catnip the most affective and would it be good along side daffodils and also because I’m seeing the above comments and my common senses. And I’m terrified of bugs and mice so the mint definitely works for some bugs.
- Aynsley Broom says:
May 16, 2017 at 2:56 pm
Hey Danielle,
We have heard that catnip does work, but we have never tried it before. If you do use it, keep us posted cause we would love to know! - Michael says:
May 22, 2017 at 7:21 pm
Fresh Cab works great to get them out of your garden and out of your garage. I ordered it online about five years ago, but I’ve now found it at some stores. We haven’t had any of them nesting in our garage ever since.
- rubby says:
October 1, 2017 at 4:55 pm
I have planted spearmint, menthol and peppermint but rats seem to angry and cop of some leaves and stemps from the mint pots, what should i do then?
- Carlos says:
May 4, 2018 at 9:10 pm
I have a huge catnip plant and the rats just have fun running around and in it
- Epitome says:
My front flower bed is full of grape hyacinth yet the mice keep burrowing under it to live – it is not repelling them at all.
- Norva Haskins says:
May 12, 2018 at 4:34 pm
We are having a large problem with the rats we live out in the woods and we had to move our chicken coop because they had nested underneath it and we’re getting in the coop. So we built a new Coupe on the other side of the property and next to the garden I just found a baby in the garden its eyes weren’t even open yet and I was tilling up the ground. We’ve tried traps I didn’t work and I did have catnip for the cats but that didn’t work we do have other animals we have deer we have Fox we have so many animals in the woods here I need a plant that I can use to plant around the chicken coop and around other areas.
- Jamie Woods says:
May 14, 2018 at 8:48 am
Hi Norva,
You may try planting peppermint or spearmint around your coop or property. - june says:
May 28, 2018 at 6:11 pm
What is the fresh cab and where can you find
it? I too have a problem with mice and rats also live live in country surrounded by fields. The6 make nests in the fan of my lawn mower and mess it up! Would love to find something that really works! Ty - Jamie Woods says:
May 30, 2018 at 9:01 am
Fresh Cab is a botanical-based repellent. You can find it a most farm supply stores.
- yodi says:
August 12, 2018 at 10:54 am
I have all growing in the garden.and nothing stops them.we live at the back of a railway line. the only thing that may stop them is rat glue traps. at least for the mice.
- Kim says:
August 28, 2018 at 8:23 pm
Dear Yodi,
PLEASE DO NOT USE GLUE TRAPS. THEY ARE THE MOST CRUEL OPTION AS THEY SUFFER SO AND IT TAKES THEM ALONG TIME TO DIE. IMAGINE IF YOU DIED LIKED THAT
- Carol P says:
October 3, 2018 at 11:53 am
There is a very large cat the roams from the front of my yard to the back, moving on to the next neighbors yard. We also have very precocious squirrels. My collard greens are rated constantly; This morning leaves were torn off and left behind when generally there are just holes eaten throughout the leaves.
Empty shells, peanut &walnut shells are strewn about and sometimes on top of a lower brick fence. I have come across buried peanuts as well. Is the mice/rats, squirrels or neighbors. 3X I have found 3-4 inch beef bones. - Kevin Cush says:
February 19, 2020 at 9:07 pm
Does cilantro attract mice? KC
- Jeffrey Balch says:
February 20, 2020 at 1:59 pm
Yes, mice eat cilantro!
Sonia 
Danielle Harris 
Aynsley Broom 
Michael 
rubby 
Carlos 
Epitome 
Norva Haskins 
Jamie Woods 
june 
Kim 
Carol P 
Jeffrey Balch Speak Your Mind
As an enthusiast with a deep understanding of pest repellent plants, I'd like to share my knowledge on the concepts discussed in the article titled "What Plants Repel Mice and Rats?" by Mandy Maxwell.
The article suggests various plants with pest-repelling properties that can be planted in and around homes to deter mice and rats. These plants include:
-
Any type of mint: Mint is mentioned as a plant with pest-repelling properties. However, a commenter named Sonia shared her experience, stating that mint didn't repel rodents in her case.
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Amaryllis, sweet pea, lavender, daffodils, wood hyacinth (or squill), grape hyacinth, alliums, catnip, camphor plant, elderberry, euphorbias, and wormwood: These are listed as plants that may repel mice and rats.
-
Oak and bay leaves: Oak and bay leaves are also noted to repel rodents.
The article suggests planting these plants outside the home and even making sachets from their leaves for use in drawers and closets. It's important to note that Flower Shop Network mentions they haven't tested these methods, but they are known to work.
However, some commenters shared their experiences and concerns regarding the effectiveness of certain plants:
- Sonia mentions that mint didn't repel rodents in her case.
- Jennifer Ervin expresses her struggle with mice in her garden despite having mint.
- Danielle Harris asks about the effectiveness of catnip alongside daffodils and expresses fear of bugs and mice.
- Several commenters share their experiences with different repellents, such as peppermint oil, mouse repellent products, and Fresh Cab.
It's evident from the comments that the effectiveness of these plants varies among individuals, and some may have different experiences with the suggested repellents. Additionally, alternative repellents like Fresh Cab, peppermint oil, and specific commercial products are mentioned as options.
In conclusion, while the article provides a comprehensive list of plants believed to repel mice and rats, individual experiences vary, and alternative solutions are suggested by the community, showcasing the diversity of approaches to pest control.
