Popular TV presenter and gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has urged gardeners to do one job now if they want to keep rats away all summer long.
Alan Titchmarsh has shared the one gardening job to do now to banish rats all summer (Image: Getty)
Famed garden expert Alan Titchmarsh has shared the common gardening job which could be the key to keeping rats away this summer.
While many green-fingered enthusiasts are only too keen to welcome a variety of wildlife into their outdoor spaces, this often doesn’t apply to rats. In the UK, rat populations vary wildly, but could be anywhere from 10 million to more than 100 million.
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If you’re keen to bask in the warmth of the evening sun in a serene oasis on your doorstep, for many, that peace and tranquility can be immediately replaced by stress and anxiety at the sight of a rat.
Professional gardener, horticulturist, and beloved TV presenter Alan Titchmarsh may have the solution to keeping the furry creature away, though.
And apparently, it all comes down to clever lawn care.
In a video for BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine, the gardening expert began: “Of all the garden pests, the one that fills us with most horror and revulsion, generally, is the rat. I mean, you never know where they are, do you?”
He said the “place they love more than anywhere else in the garden” is, of course, the compost heap, “mainly because of the heat generated” by the “rotting vegetation”. To avoid rats treating your compost heap like their very own “central heated house”, the gardening guru advised making sure the “structure is solid”.
In his own garden, he has “really strong wooden sides” on his unit, as well as “steel sheeting right around the back”.
Regarding your lawn, the Titchmarsh urged people to keep their grass cut short – but this may be disappointing for some people to hear, as longer grass can help wildlife to thrive.
Of why short grass is key, the pro explained: “Rats are furtive. They like cover, they like shelter – they do not like close mown grass where they can be seen. They much prefer it longer.
“So, if you’ve got long grass everywhere, that gives them access. Just to get your mower out.
Titchmarsh said rats love the compost heap (stock image) (Image: Getty)
“Cut it short, have a stripe or two if you want, and that way you can see,” he gestured to the vast lawn surrounding him on screen. “Look, no rats.”
While this may be an effective solution for keeping rats away from your garden, it may also prevent other species from thriving there, too.
Allowing the grass to grow a little longer has benefits for many creatures. It creates an instant habitat which supports ground nesting insects by providing them somewhere to hide, as well as shelter for other insects.
Longer grass is also better at retaining moisture, while some unwanted weeds like dandelions provide a food source for emerging spring insects, just as long as they’re not cut down too early.
It comes down to personal preference – and just how prevalent your rat problem may be.