Rats are more common in spring as it’s peak breeding season, and experts warn that storing certain items outdoors can attract the rodents to your garden. Here’s what you need to know
The prospect of rats infiltrating your garden is universally unwelcome, which is why identifying straightforward deterrent methods is crucial. What many don’t realise is that spring is actually one of the peak seasons for rats attempting to access people’s properties, as it coincides with their breeding period, meaning homeowners must remain alert.
This results in heightened activity around homes, which means you’re more likely to encounter them in your garden throughout April. However, keeping certain items outdoors can actually lure them in, meaning you must be mindful about what you store in your garden and how these things are put away.
Indeed, there are several things demanding your attention this spring. Rats could infiltrate your property quite easily if you leave particular items outside.
As spring sunshine begins to emerge, most of us will be making trips to the garden centre to purchase soil and compost, and frequently, those extra bags end up stashed beneath the decking to maintain a tidy patio.
It appears a perfectly logical solution but, according to Allan Jeffrey, gardening expert at Ultra Decking, it’s amongst the most frequent ways homeowners inadvertently welcome pests into their garden.
Whilst compost might be excellent for your flowerbeds, it’s also a magnet for rodents and insects, especially when it’s positioned in the dark, damp environment that exists beneath most decking. There are several reasons it’s so appealing to the wrong sort of visitors.
Compost bags are brimming with organic matter and retain moisture, creating precisely the sort of warm, damp conditions that rats and mice seek out when nesting season begins in spring. And it’s not only rodents you need to worry about.
Ants and soil-dwelling insects are attracted to identical conditions and, once they’ve established themselves near your decking or fencing, they can prove remarkably difficult to remove.
Once rats and mice take up residence, the issues tend to escalate. Allan explained: “Nesting rats are a big problem. Their numbers grow quickly, and they’ll soon start gnawing through garden structures like your decking, your fencing and that kind of damage doesn’t come cheap.”
Firewood is another potential hazard. “Those storing leftover winter logs under their decking are also at risk,” he continued. “Timber that’s picked up moisture over winter is the perfect hiding place for wood-boring insects, and that’s when the real damage starts.”
How to store your garden supplies
Allan suggests a simple strategy to keep pests away:
- Elevate and ventilate. Store compost bags and firewood on a raised platform at least one to two metres away from the house and any timber structures. Good airflow prevents moisture from building up and makes the spot far less appealing to pests.
- Switch to sealed bins. If you have little space, decant compost into heavy-duty plastic bins with clip-on lids. These are much harder for rodents and insects to get into.
- Do a 60-second check. Get a torch and take a quick look under your decking for early warning signs – shredded plastic, small entry holes or dark droppings. Catching things early is nearly always the difference between a quick tidy-up and a costly pest control call-out.
A touch of organisation now can prevent considerable trouble down the line, and ensures you can properly enjoy your garden this summer. If you suspect rats are nearby, get in touch with a pest control specialist for guidance.
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