Rats can take over your garden if 1 unlikely item is stored outside

Rats are super active in summer, and storing a certain item outdoors can cause them to take over your garden. Advice has been shared on how people can prevent the issue

The prospect of rats invading your garden is something no homeowner wishes to encounter, which is why understanding how to keep them away is absolutely vital. What many homeowners don’t realise is that August is actually one of the peak times for rats trying to access properties, as it aligns with their breeding season — meaning extra caution is required.

This results in heightened activity around homes during summer, making sightings in your garden considerably more probable. However, leaving particular items outside can actively attract them, so it’s worth being careful about what you keep in your garden and how it’s stored.

There are, indeed, numerous things that should be on your mind right now regarding rats. Certain items left outdoors could make it surprisingly straightforward for rats to establish themselves on your property.

What draws them in?

If you’ve been visiting the garden centre to purchase soil and compost, more often than not, those extra bags end up stored beneath the decking to maintain a tidy patio appearance.

It appears to be a perfectly logical approach but, according to Allan Jeffrey, gardening expert at Ultra Decking, it’s one of the most frequent ways homeowners inadvertently invite pests onto their property. While compost may be wonderful for your flowerbeds, it is equally appealing to rodents and insects — particularly when kept in the dark, damp conditions that commonly exist beneath decking.

There are several reasons why it proves so attractive to unwanted visitors. Compost bags are filled with organic matter and retain moisture, generating precisely the kind of warm, humid environment that rats and mice seek out when nesting.

Yet rodents aren’t the only worry. Ants and soil-dwelling insects are attracted to the very same conditions and, once they’ve settled in near your decking or fencing, they can be extraordinarily difficult to remove.

Once rats and mice establish themselves, the issues tend to escalate rapidly. 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 poses another potential hazard. “Those storing leftover winter logs under their decking are also at risk,” he added.

“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 method to keep pests away:

• Raise and air out. Store compost bags and firewood on an elevated platform at least one to two metres away from the house and any timber structures. Good ventilation prevents moisture building up and makes the spot much less appealing to pests.
• Move to sealed containers. If space is tight, move compost into robust plastic bins with secure clip-on lids. These are significantly more difficult for rodents and insects to penetrate.
• Complete a 60-second check. Take a torch and conduct a swift examination beneath your decking for warning signs – torn plastic, small access holes or dark droppings.

Identifying issues early is nearly always the distinction between a simple clear-up and a costly pest control visit. A small amount of preparation now can prevent considerable trouble, and ensures you’ll be able to properly enjoy your garden this summer.

If you suspect rats may be present nearby, contact a pest control professional for guidance.