How to get rid of rats in the garden: A guide to the best rat deterrents

If you’re spotting unwelcome rodent activity outdoors, you’re not alone. Rats in gardens are a common issue across the UK, especially during the autumn and winter months when they’re seeking out warmth and shelter. Despite popular belief, it’s not just untidy gardens that attract rats. Even the most well-kept outdoor spaces can appeal to them if food and shelter are accessible.

To prevent an infestation, it’s important to understand what attracts rats to your garden in the first place, and take proactive steps to remove those temptations.

If your garden offers one or more of the following, it may become a target:

• Food waste: Uncovered compost bins, fallen fruit, bird seed, pet food, and litter can all provide easy meals.
• Water: Ponds, birdbaths, and dripping outdoor taps or hoses provide reliable water sources.
• Nesting areas: Garden sheds, greenhouses, compost heaps, decking, log piles, and overgrown hedges make easy nesting sites for rats.
• Warmth and shelter: Long grass and unkempt areas of the garden offer protection from predators.

Before taking steps to deter them, it’s a good idea to confirm that rats are actually the problem. Several other pests, including mice, squirrels, cats, or foxes can all leave behind similar damage. 

Here are some of the most reliable signs of rats in gardens:

• Rat burrows: Rats burrow underground to find shelter and store food. Look for small holes in the ground that measure around 5-10cm across, and have smooth edges. Burrows can often be found around the bases of sheds, decking, or along walls and fences, and may have loose soil around them. Rat burrows often have multiple entrances, so you might notice several holes clustered together.
• Nests: While rats burrow, they will also make surface nests especially for raising young. These nests are usually made from twigs, leaves, and grass, and can be built from man-made materials like shredded cardboard, insulation, or paper. If you're wondering what a rat’s nest looks like in the garden, picture a loosely formed, messy ball of material, often hidden under sheds, in compost heaps, or dense vegetation.
• Droppings: Rat droppings are dark brown to black in colour, and are shaped like a grain of rice. They are usually around 1-2cm long, and can be found in clusters. They’re larger than mouse droppings and darker than those from squirrels, which helps distinguish them.
• Teeth marks: Rats have very sharp teeth and have to chew constantly to keep them from overgrowing. You might spot signs of gnawing on wooden sheds, plastic bin lids, garden tools, plant pots, hoses, and even concrete or brick. Rats also like to nibble on fruit, vegetables, and bulbs. 
• Smudge marks: A rat’s fur contains oils that can leave behind marks as they squeeze through gaps along their regular routes. If you spot dark, smudge-like marks along holes in fences and walls, or around the perimeters of sheds and other outbuildings, rats could be the culprits. 
• Noises at night: Rats are usually more active at night, so if you hear scratching, gnawing, or scuttling after dark, they may be nesting nearby.

Catching the signs of rats early gives you the best chance of removing them before they multiply or cause any significant damage, so it’s important to stay vigilant.

A common question from concerned gardeners is: can rats climb walls? Unfortunately, the answer is yes. Rats are agile climbers, capable of scaling brick walls, wooden fences, trellises, drainpipes, trees, and climbing plants. This climbing ability is one of the reasons it’s so important to physically block entry points, which we’ll cover in more detail in the next section.

Once you’ve identified a rat problem, the next step is to tackle it head-on. At Mesh Direct, we always recommend using natural and humane rat deterrents that are safe for pets, local wildlife, and the environment. 

There’s no single method that works for everyone, but by combining a few smart strategies, you can dramatically increase your chances of success. So, without further ado, here’s how to get rid of rats in gardens — and how to keep them from coming back:

While they might seem innocuous, even small oversights such as dripping taps can be enough to attract unwanted attention. With fewer incentives, you’ll drastically reduce the chance of rats sticking around.

Remove nesting materials and hiding spots

Rats are excellent at keeping out of sight, and even if your garden looks tidy at first glance, it could still be providing rats with the perfect place to nest. To stop rats nesting in your garden, make the space as unwelcoming as possible by removing all potential hiding places:

Use physical barriers

How to install your rat mesh

To effectively get rid of rats in the garden, you’ll need to block off every potential access point. Use your mesh to cover spaces under decking, gaps around the doors and perimeters of sheds or outbuildings, as well as any cracks, crevices, or holes in brickwork and fencing. Remember, rats can squeeze through very tiny spaces, so it’s important to make sure every gap is blocked off. 

Once you have your tools ready, cut the mesh to fit each area precisely, then fasten it securely, ensuring there are no loose edges or unsealed corners. If you are installing mesh above soft ground or soil, you may need to bury the mesh slightly to prevent digging.

Natural rat deterrents

One of the most widely used natural rat deterrents is peppermint oil. Rats rely heavily on their sense of smell, and the strong menthol scent of peppermint is thought to overwhelm their sensory system, making it difficult for them to navigate.

Soak cotton wool balls in 100% peppermint essential oil, and place them around entry points, along fences, around compost bins, and in garden sheds. Refresh them every once in a while to keep the scent strong. For added defence, consider planting peppermint around vulnerable areas, which can have the same effect.

Alongside peppermint oil for rats, there are several other scent-based deterrents known for keeping them away:

• Citrus: Scatter fresh lemon and orange peels around entry points and other problem areas. These can help deter other pests too, including cats. 
• Used coffee grounds: If rats have been nibbling at crops or bulbs, mix coffee grounds into compost or sprinkle them over beds (this will enrich the soil, too). 

Chilli flakes: These contain capsaicin, a natural irritant to many animals. Sprinkle around suspected entry points or mix lightly into compost to discourage digging.

Mint, lavender, daffodils, and alliums (a family of plants that includes garlic, onion, and chives) are all known to be unpleasant to rats, either due to their scent or toxicity. Try planting these around the edges of your garden to create a long-lasting, low-maintenance barrier. These plants not only help deter rats but can also protect your garden from other pests, offering added value with minimal upkeep.

Please note that other animals such as dogs and cats may also be sensitive to some of the above natural remedies, in particular coffee grounds, capsaicin, daffodils, chilli and alliums. Therefore, if you have pets it may be best to rely on physical barriers such as wire mesh as a rat deterrent.

For a more high-tech option, sonic or ultrasonic rat deterrents can be useful. These devices emit high-frequency rat deterrent sounds that are irritating to rodents but inaudible to people. 

You can also try visual deterrents like decoy predators (e.g. fake owls or cats). When placed in visible spots such as fences, tree branches, or rooftops, they can scare rats away — just be sure to move them regularly so rats don’t get used to them.

Now that you know how to get rid of rats in the garden, as well as the best rat deterrents to use to stop them coming back, you should be well-equipped to protect your outdoor space and keep it looking its best. If you suspect an infestation, whether from rats or other pests, it’s important to act swiftly. And remember: prevention is always better — and far more cost-effective — than dealing with the damage after it’s done. Shop rat mesh now, and keep your garden secure.

Here at Mesh Direct, we offer a wide range of wire mesh for all your pest control needs, including mouse mesh, mole-proof mesh, squirrel protection mesh, fox protection mesh, rabbit netting, and insect mesh. We also stock the highest quality animal enclosure mesh to keep your pets safe, from aviary mesh to cat and dog fencing. 

Not sure which is the right product for you? Get in touch today and a member of our team will be happy to help.