Chumasande MatiwaneIf you’ve ever dealt with a rodent infestation in your garden, you definitely know how frustrating, unsanitary, and potentially dangerous it can be. Rats, mice and squirrels invade homes and gardens, contaminate your garden crops, and damage your plants. While there are commercial rodenticides available, they come with significant drawbacks, sometimes containing toxic chemicals that can harm your plants and overall garden.
Pest control tips for the season
Most rodents stay active throughout the year. This means if the conditions in your garden are hospitable, they may very well decide to move their activities to your garden. Rodents are always on the lookout for a spot to call home. To avoid the unpleasant sight of rats, mice and squirrels darting in and around your garden. Keep these unwanted invaders out of your garden by using these few tips:
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1. Give your garden a clean – The one thing about rodents is that they love the crumbs left behind in your garden. The best defence against rodents is a clean environment. Eliminating mess can remove the odours that unwanted rodents are attracted to, especially mice and rats.
2. Search for rodent hot spots – Rodents are on the search for a cosy new place to sleep. Leave rodents no temptation to claim a new shelter by clearing out places such as woodpiles, leaf piles, shrubs or debris in your garden. Check for gaps and holes in your garden. Rats can enlarge a small gap by gnawing on it with their teeth and thus creating bigger holes in your garden. Moles can also be a nuisance in your garden. They live underground in your garden and can destroy your plants.
3. Maintain landscaping – Garden maintenance is extremely necessary to keep your garden rodent-free. Trim any branches that hang close to the ground. Mice are good at climbing, and they could end up going inside your house. Tidy up any dense vegetation and clear weeds and leaf piles to provide lurking rodents with fewer hiding places.
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ALSO SEE: EFFECTIVE METHODS TO SAFEGUARD YOUR GARDEN FROM SQUIRRELS
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