Alan Titchmarsh's Guide to Getting Rid of Rats in Your Garden

Managing Rat Activity in Compost Heaps

• ⚠️ Compost heaps are a favorite for rats due to the heat generated by rotting vegetation, providing a 'central heated house'.
• 🛠️ To deter rats, ensure your compost bin has solid sides, ideally with steel sheeting around the back extending to the ground to prevent burrowing.
• 🚫 Avoid adding processed foods, cooked items, meat, or potatoes to the compost, as these are an open invitation.
• ✅ Safe to add are moldy apples and soft green clippings like mint shoots or lawn mowings, but mix and firm them down.
• 💧 If the compost gets dry, use a hosepipe; if you find a rat hole, stick the hosepipe down it, as rats dislike 'swimming pools'.

Bird Feeders and Rat Prevention

• 🐦 While gardeners encourage birds, bird feeders can attract rats.
• 🎯 Position feeders in the open, in the middle of a lawn, as rats dislike running through exposed areas and prefer cover.
• ⏰ Avoid leaving bird food lying around overnight; put it out first thing in the morning, even if it means waiting a short while for the birds.

Garden Maintenance to Deter Rats

• ✂️ Rats are furtive and prefer cover; keeping grass cut short makes them more visible and less secure.
• 🍎 Stored fruit is highly attractive to rats; ensure storage areas like sheds or garages are rat-proof with no small holes at the bottom.
• 🔄 Rats are comfortable with routine; changing the layout of your garden, such as moving pots near buildings, can make them feel insecure and deter them.