Rats are a common problem in UK gardens in the summer, but a basic supermarket item can help naturally deter these pesky rodents and protect your plants08:39, 11 Jun 2026Summer is well and truly here, and that means one thing — it's peak breeding season for rats. These troublesome rodents are making themselves known in households up and down the UK, with rat activity reaching an all-time high throughout the summer months.‌These unwelcome visitors become increasingly active between spring and summer, particularly across Britain, where an abundance of easily accessible food and shelter provides the perfect conditions for them to breed and thrive.‌While they are undeniably clever creatures, these rodents are generally unwanted in our homes, especially gardens, and our beloved outdoor spaces tend to bear the brunt of peak rat activity.‌These widespread rodents are capable of transmitting serious illnesses such as leptospirosis, which can ultimately develop into Weil's disease, and in rare cases, hantavirus — an outbreak of which recently claimed the lives of three people.Rats are known to feast on a wide range of foods, including root vegetables such as carrots and potatoes, fruits, and scattered bird feed. In gardens especially, these bothersome rodents tend to set up camp in sheds, greenhouses, compost bins and beneath decking, reports the Express.‌Fortunately, Gardeners' World has compiled several expert-backed tips on how to safeguard your garden and plants from these unwanted nuisances that cause untold damage to our treasured outdoor spaces — and one natural remedy costs as little as £1.47.Protecting garden plants from ratsAccording to Gardener's World, while there isn't a great deal you can do to stop rats from feasting on your crops and cherished garden plants, there are several measures you can take to drive these rodents away.To prevent rats from devastating the plants in your garden, Gardener's World advises spraying peppermint oil on or around your crops. Rats possess an incredibly sensitive nose, and the powerful scent of peppermint is well known to irritate them — making it one of the few smells these rodents truly cannot stand.‌Peppermint oil is currently available at Asda for as little as £1.47 for 60ml.To whip up your own powerful rat-repelling homemade spray, simply combine 1 part peppermint oil with 2 parts water. Pour the mixture into a spray bottle, give it a good shake, and you're ready to go.‌Applying the spray on or around your plants will discourage rat activity in the treated areas. For the best results, reapply the mixture twice weekly.According to the experts, another strong smell rats despise is that of the catnip plant. Planting catnip along the borders of your garden is another widely recommended natural solution to keep rats from invading your outdoor space.Further cost-free methods to discourage rat activity outside include keeping your garden neat and tidy and regularly rearranging items around the space. According to Gardener's World, rats are less drawn to well-kept gardens as they offer far less cover for them to shelter in.Article continues belowKeeping your lawn trimmed, disposing of rubbish regularly, cutting back overgrown patches — particularly near garden buildings or fences — and clearing out persistently cluttered storage areas can all go a long way towards reducing rat activity in your garden.Regularly shifting things around acts as a deterrent, as rats are neo-phobic, meaning they have an innate fear of anything new or unfamiliar.Rats are deeply unsettled by any disturbance to their territory, so placing small obstacles along their usual routes and rearranging items in your garden on a frequent basis is a simple, cost-free and remarkably effective method of keeping these disease-carrying pests well away from your outdoor space.