Gardening pro reveals how to keep mice out of your garden for good – including £3 hack with kitchen cupboard essential

SEEING MICE in the garden is something we would all prefer to avoid this summer.

Although a mouse or two may go unnoticed in the garden, an infestation will soon become apparent.

Rats love gardens as they provide everything they need to survive – and offer cover from predators.

And an infestation can emerge quickly, destroying plants, eating newly sown seeds and eventually making its way into your home.

But to help you take back control of your garden, the experts at Sefton Meadows Garden Center have shared three ethical tips for keeping them at bay.

MAKES AROMAS

Just like mice and other rodents, rats have a powerful sense of smell for sniffing out food, but you can also use it to keep them away.

There are certain scents that just don’t sit well with little critters, and spraying them around the garden frequently or keeping them as plants should keep them away from your outdoor space.

You will “notice a difference quickly” by focusing on food sources and nesting areas.

These scents include; vinegar, eucalyptus, cedar, pepper and cinnamon.

You can also grow lavender, peppermint, rosemary, or daffodils to keep them away.

SOUNDS LIKE A PLAN

Ultrasonic devices produce high-frequency waves that are believed to “irritate rats’ delicate senses,” experts said. The express.

They can also ward off a number of other pests,” including; foxes, cockroaches, birds and flies, so it’s worth a try.

Although their effectiveness has been disputed, many claim to see a difference in the use of sound devices.

Again, they are best placed at food sources as well as nesting areas.

HOME GOODS

While some may be tempted to use traps or poison to get rid of them, there are harmless ways to do so.

There are many natural homemade rat repellents that “solve the problem”.

Experts stated, “You can create a rat repellent spray that can be easily applied to your garden, or you can soak cotton balls in essential oils and place them around places where rats are most likely to inhabit.”

To make a spray, mix 250ml of water and two tablespoons of essential oils (such as peppermint or lavender) and spray on the most affected areas.

You may already have peppermint oil in your kitchen cupboard, but if not, you can buy it in 10ml tubes on Amazon for £2.97.

6 Spring Gardening Jobs You Can Do in 60 Minutes

A gardening professional or just starting your planting journey? Nigel Lawton, gardening expert at Dobbies Garden Centers, shared six jobs you can do to transform your garden in under an hour.

1. Tidy up

Remove dead leaves, tidy beds and borders, remove seeds and mulch the surface with a good layer of peat-free organic compost. TIME: 60 minutes

2. Design beds and borders

Trim winter flowering plants where the flowers have begun to fade. Start by removing any dead, diseased or damaged branches and get rid of any crossing branches, says Nigel.

Next, prune summer-flowering shrubs such as Buddleia, Lavatera and hardy Fuschias to allow room for new growth. In addition to stimulating new plant growth by removing dead material, pruning will also allow you to control the height and shape of the plants. TIME: 50 minutes

3. Create a cozy patio

If you have a patio, transform it into a cozy gathering place.

Start by giving it a good cleaning with a jet wash to get the job done quickly in less than an hour. You can liven up the area even more by adding some garden furniture combined with some cushions, some throws and an outdoor rug. TIME: 30 minutes

4. Upgrade the pots

To enjoy instant color in your garden this spring, Nigel recommends refreshing your pots, hanging baskets and window boxes with early season flowers for a country garden effect.

Plant in groups of three or five to create an impactful display of small, medium and large plants of different heights next to your door. TIME: 15 minutes

5. Lawn Care

Another beginner task you can do to spruce up your garden is to care for your lawn by cultivating the soil and making sure the area is level and firm.

Remove any moss or dead grass and apply lawn treatment in late spring. TIME: 15-30 minutes

6. Welcome to the wild

Spring is the perfect time to welcome wildlife to your garden, as small animals come out of hibernation and new birds are born.

To ensure your garden is a safe space for wildlife, Nigel suggests dedicating a small section of your garden to creating a wildlife-friendly habitat, with pollinator plants and places to shelter small animals and insects.

You can create a safe space for them by stacking branches in a shady spot to help protect them from the elements. All of this can be done in less than an hour. TIME: 40 minutes