UK households urged to use 12p item to keep rats out of gardens
An expert has shared some top tips on how to keep rats out of your garden - using just a few household items. One of the items is a kitchen essential that you probably have in your cupboard right now
Gardening buffs are no strangers to battling pests like slugs and snails, but rats present a particularly vexing challenge to those who wish to enjoy their plants in peace.
Robert Collins from MyJobQuote.co.uk has shared his top tips for keeping these unwanted visitors away from your garden. Better yet, it involves a common household item you're likely to have on hand—essential oils stand out as a go-to measure for fending off the pesky rodents.
When it comes to essential oils, Mr Collins recommends: "This is one of the safest and most effective natural ways to get rid of rats. Peppermint, Eucalyptus, and Citronella are great examples of essential oils that are brilliant at deterring rats."
He explains that the potent aroma of such essences acts as a deterrent. He adds that you can create a homemade rat-repellent spray by combining an essential oil with water in a spritz bottle.
For anyone eager to try this method, he suggests mixing one part essential oil to nine parts water and spraying the concoction along garden boundaries and spots where rats might frequent, as reported by North Wales Live.
Onions
Mr Collins reveals that you can use onions to deter rats. Their pungent smell can prevent them from wanting to enter the garden.
He recommends slicing few onions and scattering them around your garden's perimeter or any obvious entry points.Onions can be easily sourced from your local supermarket, with prices as low as 21p at Tesco or 95p at Waitrose.
Steel wool
Steel wool can be used to block rats' access to your garden. The expert advised: "If there are any visible access points where you know the rats are entering and exiting from, stuff some steel wool into these gaps.
He continued: "Steel wool is a great barrier as it's difficult for rats to nibble at steel wool. They will eventually give up when they find they can't get through it."
How to seal up entry points for rats?
Mr Collins suggests using steel wool to best seal rat entry points. He advised, "Fill the gaps with steel wool and then put caulk around the steel wool to ensure it stays in place. Alternatively, you can use spray foam to keep it in place." If there are cracks or openings in your walls, you can apply caulking, which will create an airtight seal that protects your home from pests.
He also warns of potential entry points via chimneys. In this case, you should install chimney grates. Although, this is best left to professionals. You should also seal any vents with mouse mesh to prevent access. If there are gaps in your roof, you can also fill these with sealants, roof tar, or tiles.
He added, "Whenever you seal a gap to prevent rats from accessing your property, it's important to always use metal. Rats can chew through most materials."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
The sausage roll that's better than Greggs – and it beats Aldi and Lidl too
IT'S officially picnic season – but what are the best supermarket foods to pack in your hamper? We've tested all the own-brand sausage rolls from the major supermarkets to see which are the best value for money - and whether they beat Greggs. 9 We've scored them out of 10 for taste and 10 for value, taking into account the pork content and price for a 360g pack of six. Here's how the sausage rolls scored out of 20 overall: Tesco Pork Sausage Rolls, £1.95 for 6 Our test of the Tesco sausage rolls got off to a bad start with a large piece of gristle in the first bite. The sausage was tasteless, which is unsurprising as it contained just 27 per cent pork – the joint-lowest of all the supermarkets. But the pastry was light and flaky. At 33p per roll, these were middle of the range on price but you don't get much sausage for your money. Taste: 5/10 Value: 5/10 Total: 10/20 Asda Pork Sausage Rolls, £1.95 for 6 9 The Asda sausages were also disappointing, as the sausage meat was a bland, smooth paste and the pastry had a greasy aftertaste. Overall these were greasy and tasteless – and cost more than the budget versions from brands like Aldi and Lidl. Taste: 4/10 Value: 6/10 Total: 10/20 Sainsbury's Pork Sausage Rolls, £1.69 for 6 9 At 28p per roll, Sainsbury's versions were one of the cheapest supermarket sausage rolls we tried – but they had one of lowest meat contents, at just 27 per cent pork. Although the pastry was light and flaky, the meat filling was unusually dark and tasted bland. Taste: 6/10 Value: 6/10 Total: 12/20 Morrisons Pork Sausage Rolls, £2.40 for 6 9 Morrisons ' sausage rolls had a great taste, with plenty of seasoning and the second highest meat content of all those we tried, at 30 per cent pork. The pastry had large gaps in and crumbled apart easily, but it tasted buttery. At 40p per roll, these were one of the most expensive options – but were worth the price. Taste: 8/10 Value: 6/10 Total: 14/20 Aldi Crestwood Sausage Rolls, £1.69 for 6 9 Both Aldi and Lidl's sausage rolls were extremely similar, with a crumbly sausage meat filling and stodgy pastry that looked undercooked – even after heating them in the oven. At 28p per roll, these budget versions tasted bland but salty. Taste: 6/10 Value: 7/10 Total: 13/20 Lidl Chef Select Sausage Rolls, £1.69 for 6 9 Just like the Aldi version, these budget sausage rolls were inoffensive but covered in stodgy, undercooked pastry. Both Lidl and Aldi's versions contained 29 per cent pork. Taste: 6/10 Value: 7/10 Total: 13/20 WINNER Waitrose Sausage Rolls, £2.40 for 6 (360g) 9 Posh supermarket Waitrose's sausage rolls were the joint-most expensive – at 40p per roll – but worth the extra pennies. The pastry was crumbly and brown, although it was not quite as crisp and flaky as the pastry on a Greggs ' sausage roll. The filling had a wholesome taste of pork and herbs. It wasn't surprising to find they had the highest pork content (36 per cent) of all the sausage rolls we tried. These are worth splurging on – and they're still nearly a third cheaper than Greggs. Taste: 8/10 Value: 7/10 Total: 15/20 Greggs Sausage Rolls, £3.90 for 4 large rolls (440g) 9 The 'nation's favourite' sausage roll is a classic for a reason. It had crisp, light and flaky pastry, although the sausage meat itself was fairly bland. That is perhaps not surprising - the pork content of the Greggs sausage rolls is far lower than any of the supermarket versions we tried, at just 22 per cent. And they were also the most expensive. You get more sausage roll by weight in a pack of four from Greggs (400g compared with 360g in all the supermarket versions). But it still works out around a third more expensive gram-for-gram than the most costly supermarket versions at Waitrose. Taste: 8/10 Value: 5/10 Total: 13/20 How to save money on your supermarket shop THERE are plenty of ways to save on your grocery shop. You can look out for yellow or red stickers on products, which show when they've been reduced. If the food is fresh, you'll have to eat it quickly or freeze it for another time. Making a list should also save you money, as you'll be less likely to make any rash purchases when you get to the supermarket. Going own brand can be one easy way to save hundreds of pounds a year on your food bills too. This means ditching "finest" or "luxury" products and instead going for "own" or value" type of lines. Plenty of supermarkets run wonky veg and fruit schemes where you can get cheap prices if they're misshapen or imperfect. For example, Lidl runs its Waste Not scheme, offering boxes of 5kg of fruit and vegetables for just £1.50. If you're on a low income and a parent, you may be able to get up to £442 a year in Healthy Start vouchers to use at the supermarket too. Plus, many councils offer supermarket vouchers as part of the Household Support Fund.
Scottish Sun
2 days ago
- Scottish Sun
Tesco is selling a £6.99 buy that'll get rid of pesky flies in seconds, and it's completely chemical-free too
Plus, why do flies come out in summer? BUZZ OFF Tesco is selling a £6.99 buy that'll get rid of pesky flies in seconds, and it's completely chemical-free too WHEN you spend long summer days in the garden, keeping pesky flies and mosquitos at bay is a top priority. Fortunately, there are many great repellent options available if you're tired of the constant buzzing by your ears. 3 Closeup of a housefly with its reflection in a glass window Credit: Getty 3 One woman documented how the plant instantly trapped a fly Credit: tiktok/@hannahtuite2 3 Fellow shoppers can snap up this plant for as little as £6.99 from Tesco Credit: tiktok/@hannahtuite2 However, for pest control that also makes your outdoor space look better, it's worth considering adding a special plant that will kill the unwelcome visitors. Most of us have heard that adding basil or rosemary to the greenery works wonders. But turns out, there's another plant worth snapping up from your local Tesco - the Venus Fly Trap. The ultimate natural pest control is this carnivorous plant that captures pesky insects and spiders in its claw-like, clamshell-shaped leaves. Once the pest has been trapped, the plant snaps them shut, and then "eats" its unsuspecting prey by releasing digestive enzymes. While these plants are certainly fascinating and entertaining to watch, the Venus Fly Trap requires rather specific conditions. For best results, you should plant it outside for full sun - however, if that's not an option, you can keep it on a sunny windowsill with an additional artificial light nearby. The fly-munching trap also likes wet soil, meaning if in a pot, its roots must always be sitting in water. As the plant can't handle hard water that comes from most taps in the UK, it's strongly advised to keep it hydrated with distilled or clean rainwater. If the trap is unable to catch food on its own, green-fingered Brits should keep it fed with insects, blood worms, or fish food. The 2C method which stops flies plaguing your home and ruining your BBQ Keen to see whether this chemical-free solution works? Shoppers can snap up Venus Fly Trap in a Tin from Tesco for just £6.99, order it from Amazon for £13.99 or buy it from their local B&Q on sale for £16.35. One person who was recently amazed by how well the plant worked was Irish lass and TikToker Hannah Tuite - her plant caught a fly just an hour after purchasing it. ''Wasn't expecting this to work, let alone so quick,'' she told fellow social media users in the now-viral video. Why do flies come out in summer? Flies are present all year round, but all of a sudden when summer comes, they are just EVERYWHERE! The main contributing factors are the breeding cycle of flies and the soaring temperatures. Insects are cold blooded and in summer, when their body temperature rises from the external heat, they become more active. The hotter weather also let's them seek out cool moist spots, like inside your home, to escape from the sweltering heat and to lay their eggs. House Fly eggs take around 20 hours to hatch, but when the temperature rises above 37 degrees, can hatch within 8 hours! In extreme hot weather the eggs can mature from larvae to adult fly in as little as four days. The average lifespan of a housefly is 21 days, so each female can lay up to 900 eggs during the summer months! However, if you're on the lookout for a less barbaric option, the stunning lavender works a treat too - and it will leave your garden smelling amazing. Although lavender is one of the most beloved scents for humans, flies can't stand the scent of it. Therefore, if you plant the fragrant flower near the entrance to your home or on the windowsill, it will act as a barrier against flies. Plus, lavender also attracts bees, which will give your garden a wildlife boost. Anyone wanting to try out this simple hack won't have to fork out much, as Aldi is launching a lavender plant for just £3.79. The bargain bloom will be available at stores across the UK from June 12, so flower fans had better set their alarms to be in with the chance of snagging the product.
The Sun
2 days ago
- The Sun
Tesco is selling a £6.99 buy that'll get rid of pesky flies in seconds, and it's completely chemical-free too
WHEN you spend long summer days in the garden, keeping pesky flies and mosquitos at bay is a top priority. Fortunately, there are many great repellent options available if you're tired of the constant buzzing by your ears. 3 3 However, for pest control that also makes your outdoor space look better, it's worth considering adding a special plant that will kill the unwelcome visitors. Most of us have heard that adding basil or rosemary to the greenery works wonders. But turns out, there's another plant worth snapping up from your local Tesco - the Venus Fly Trap. The ultimate natural pest control is this carnivorous plant that captures pesky insects and spiders in its claw-like, clamshell-shaped leaves. Once the pest has been trapped, the plant snaps them shut, and then "eats" its unsuspecting prey by releasing digestive enzymes. While these plants are certainly fascinating and entertaining to watch, the Venus Fly Trap requires rather specific conditions. For best results, you should plant it outside for full sun - however, if that's not an option, you can keep it on a sunny windowsill with an additional artificial light nearby. The fly-munching trap also likes wet soil, meaning if in a pot, its roots must always be sitting in water. As the plant can't handle hard water that comes from most taps in the UK, it's strongly advised to keep it hydrated with distilled or clean rainwater. If the trap is unable to catch food on its own, green-fingered Brits should keep it fed with insects, blood worms, or fish food. The 2C method which stops flies plaguing your home and ruining your BBQ Keen to see whether this chemical-free solution works? Shoppers can snap up Venus Fly Trap in a Tin from Tesco for just £6.99, order it from Amazon for £13.99 or buy it from their local B&Q on sale for £16.35. One person who was recently amazed by how well the plant worked was Irish lass and TikToker Hannah Tuite - her plant caught a fly just an hour after purchasing it. ''Wasn't expecting this to work, let alone so quick,'' she told fellow social media users in the now-viral video. Why do flies come out in summer? Flies are present all year round, but all of a sudden when summer comes, they are just EVERYWHERE! The main contributing factors are the breeding cycle of flies and the soaring temperatures. Insects are cold blooded and in summer, when their body temperature rises from the external heat, they become more active. The hotter weather also let's them seek out cool moist spots, like inside your home, to escape from the sweltering heat and to lay their eggs. House Fly eggs take around 20 hours to hatch, but when the temperature rises above 37 degrees, can hatch within 8 hours! In extreme hot weather the eggs can mature from larvae to adult fly in as little as four days. The average lifespan of a housefly is 21 days, so each female can lay up to 900 eggs during the summer months! However, if you're on the lookout for a less barbaric option, the stunning lavender works a treat too - and it will leave your garden smelling amazing. Although lavender is one of the most beloved scents for humans, flies can't stand the scent of it. Therefore, if you plant the fragrant flower near the entrance to your home or on the windowsill, it will act as a barrier against flies. Plus, lavender also attracts bees, which will give your garden a wildlife boost. lavender plant for just £3.79. The bargain bloom will be available at stores across the UK from June 12, so flower fans had better set their alarms to be in with the chance of snagging the product.
