It’s fair to say that nobody wants rats in their gardens.
They’re the last thing you want to run by when you’re enjoying a spot of gardening or having a cup of tea in the sunshine. But little you may know, you may actually have something in your garden that’s causing them to visit.
A gardener, know as Simplify Gardening on TikTok, shared some advice in a handy video to help people try and avoid the problem. If you have a compost bin, he said rodents can “invade” them for four main reasons.
He explained exactly what people need to know, and said rats can be attracted to them as they want to live somewhere that’s “undisturbed”. They want to be able to live and raise their young somewhere that people don’t come into contact with that often.
Compost heaps are said to be “perfect” for this, as people just stay away from them. They simply go there occasionally and come back to them when needed.
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He added: “Rats move into compost bins because they’re looking for food. Compost bins tend to house lots of different food varieties that rats can eat.
“For a rat, this is perfect, because it’s like moving into an apartment with room service. Compost heaps create heat, and therefore that helps the rats keep warm and helps them from wasting energy in trying to keep warm, so they can utlise all the food they’re eating by putting weight on and feeding more young.”
It’s pretty simple when you think about it, but not everybody seemed to realise just how much compost heaps can attract unwanted visitors. While it may seem a good idea to have a compost heap, you need to be aware of what it can attract too.
What to know about compost bins
Compost bins can attract pests because they are drawn to the food and shelter the compost provides. But there are ways you can prevent this from happening.
If you want to keep a compost bin, with limited chances of attracting rats and mice, you should:
- Avoid adding foods like meat and dairy products.
- Keep it as damp as possible.
- Turn it regularly, as this helps prevent pests.
- Use dry leaves or soil to cover food scraps.
- Use scents, such as peppermint oil, to make the compost smell unappealing.
- Use a solid-sided bin to help keep rats out.
- Line the bottom of your bin with wire mesh.
- Use a tumbler, as a fully-enclosed tumbler bin can help stop rodents from accessing your compost.