When you notice signs of rats in your garden, it is best to get rid of them before they show up in your home, as well. Getting rid of rats in the garden often starts with ensuring that you do not have items lying around that will attract them, such as rotting fruit, or compost that contains food. To protect your plants and trees from the nibbles of rats, consider making a small fence around them while also removing any areas that rodents may be tempted to hide in. Rat repellent should also work to scare them away, as it typically smells like the predators that commonly threaten them.
One free, fast method of eliminating rats in the garden is to tidy it up, picking up fallen vegetables and fruits, since these may attract hungry rats. While putting compost in the garden is a popular way to help it grow, the kind that contains food scraps can attract rodents. For this reason, you should consider only using yard clippings in your compost, such as leaves, rather than garbage. While you are making these changes to get rid of rats in the garden, make sure to remove any sources of water that may attract them, as well. Once they do not have easy access to food and water, they may be encouraged to leave your garden alone.
Rats may be tempted to climb up trees to get to the fruit, so if you have any trees or plants that bear fruits or vegetables, consider putting a small fence around each one. It should be high enough that they cannot easily hop over, and it should not be easy for them to climb, either. Sheet metal often works well since it is usually too slippery for rats to climb, though smooth plastic may work just as well.
If you want to get rid of rats in the garden without having to hurt or kill them, you can use a type of repellent that scares them off. One of the most popular kinds is considered natural since it contains urine from common predators of the rat, such as bobcats and foxes. You can spray the leaves of your plants and trees, or sprinkle granules around each one, resulting in the rats smelling the formula upon approaching the garden. In most cases, people cannot smell the rat repellent, and it is usually safe for both pets and children, unlike most types of rat poison. Additionally, this natural method for getting rid of rats in the garden does not require you to actually harm or kill the pests.