[Farm] Gardens and RATS!?

rb.

rb.

Membership Revoked
Gives me the heebie jeebies just talking about this. So many people in our town are now feeding the birds and squirrels (seed and peanuts) that there is now the odd rat is to be seen in our un-restauranted neighbourhood. We thought the problem had been solved last spring, before we bought our house in this town. Today, Mom and I watched a rat in her back yard gathering corn from the bird seed and storing it under their backyard shed. Now this is in the middle of town, not in the boonies. There is a park across from them, though. I'm two blocks away, and don't feed the birds or squirrels for that reason. (Planting bushes that will feed them.) So...

My question is, is my backyard garden going to draw rats to my yard? Will consist of rhubarb, blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, peppers, onions, carrots, chives, lettuces, spinach. Mom says no, they're after the seed and peanuts. I say yes, they will eat from behind restaurants. what say ye? We have no garbage laying about. I have young kids that of course play in the yard. Don't want them playing with rats around. I'm sure I could protect the garden from rats, but will it draw them anyway?
 
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Sarrah

Contributing Member
Well I'd like to break this to you gently. Rats will raid your garden. I don't know if I would fear them attacking your children though. Too much food around to fight for it I'd think.
From previous run ins with rats in the garden they seem to really like tomatoes. A few well placed rat traps usually solves the problem. Tomatoes aren't all they snack on. I have never seen a rat in the garden in the daylight.
 
rb.

rb.

Membership Revoked
Well, CRUD!:bwl: Thanks Sarrah. We had a garden the last place we lived, but it wasn't visible from the house, nor was the backyard as high, bedroom windows faced it. Now my dining room patio doors face the back yard and veggie garden. I can see every critter out there. I don't know why a rat would bother me more than the two different kinds of squirrels out there do, but they do. Eech!

So, does anyone know of a plant that is a rodent repellent? My raised bed is framed with concrete blocks, so I can plant in the holes around the bed.

(Irrationally thinking now of fencing the whole yard with chicken wire, starting 2 feet underground:D )
 
A.T.Hagan

A.T.Hagan

Inactive
Never had a rat problem in my garden. Coons, armadillos, possums, deer, and other stuff, but not rats.

Even if you do get one it's not like there's likely to be a horde of them. It's the restaurant garbage and bird feeders that will do that.

.....Alan.
 
rb.

rb.

Membership Revoked
Thanks, Alan. We had a resident groundhog in our yard at the old house, and we let him have all the lettuce he wanted. The kids loved it. Had a muskrat too, but he got caught in the chain link fence. We cut him out and sent him off to the bush where he belonged. We have piles of squirrels and chipmunks here at the new place, and I've always liked mice (outside). Occasionally we'll have a raccoon attempt to open the garbage cans in the neighbourhood. Guess I've just been socialized to see rats in a different light. Never saw them when I was growing up.
 
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summerthyme

Administrator
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Rats HATE peppermint. Oldtimers used to spray peppermint extract into the various holes and burrows in their barns, and then stand ready with clubs and dogs to ... um.... eliminate the rats as they came running out. It used to turn into a very wild scene, from what I've been told. And you never participated without tying a string around your pant legs either- at least, not more than once!:eek:

Anyway, we pretty well have eliminated the rat problem in our heifer barn by planting black peppermint and Bee Balm (Monarda, also known as horsemint) around the foundation. The difference in numbers is really amazing.

BUT... peppermint plants spread like crazy, and can easily take over your garden. A couple of choices- either plant them in pots... and be prepared to water and water and water (they prefer moist soil). OR, sink open ended cans or buckets with the bottom cut out in the soil, and plant the peppermint in them. The runners won't be able to spread underground that way.

But for now, I'd probably soak cotton balls in peppermint essential oil and scatter them around in places that look like rats would prefer to use them to get to the garden (runway type spots, like along the base of a building, or under a slanting board, etc)

Summerthyme
 
G

Gingergirl

Veteran Member
Summer

Your rat hunt tale is a hoot!

Haven't seen rats, but have a large crop of their second cousins...rabbits. They are even trying to nest in the vegie beds.
Hard on the peas.

We also have alot of voles, but they don't seem to bother much.
 
rb.

rb.

Membership Revoked
Thanks Summerthyme. I have tons of Bee Balm (one of my favourite plants), so I'll plant some around the garden. Think I'll plant some around the perimeter of the back yard, too. As for the peppermint, doesn't the mint family of plants draw cats? Course, cats are way better than rats!
 
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summerthyme

Administrator
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rb- I can't say about mint and cats. My barn cats are all apparently part of the 30% that don't react to catnip, and I suspect that the same receptors would be involved.

But, as you said- cats are better than rats, anyway!

summerthyme
 
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