Rat is a small creature that can eat almost anything. Also, they can easily find fruit trees and fruits by their smell. Hence, these rats are a headache to many gardeners. Further, farmers use several methods to get rid of rats. This article will explain the easiest techniques for keeping rats out from fruit trees and your garden.
How rats damage fruit trees?
Rats, mice, or rodents are the common pest that associates with gardens. Generally, they are highly active in night time throughout the year. Commonly during the nighttime, they gnaw fruit tree trunks and roots. Further, rats chew and burrow the lower trunk area and roots below ground level. They use these underground holes as their nests.
Hence rats can do considerable damage to fruit trees and root systems. They weaken the plants by blocking water and nutrients absorbs by roots. Also, it directly affects plant growth and crop too.
Remove fallen fruit from the ground immediately
Generally, overripe fruits and some unripe fruits can fall into the ground. But if you are do not remove them quickly, mice will attract to them. Moreover, use the proper method to dispose of the overripe fruits. If not, rats may appear in the garbage area, and they may come to your garden too.
On the other hand, debris is the major source that allows the spread of the rat population. Hence, it would be best to keep at least 4 feet circle clean around the fruit trees.
Use Rat Guards
Some rat varieties are incredible climbers. Hence they can climb the fruit trees within a short time. Thus, to protect your harvest and tree from rats, you can use aluminum, metal, or strong plastic sheets to cover the trunk area of the tree. This cover helps to prevent rodents from climbing.
Plant trees with some space
You should pay much attention when planting fruit trees. Because if tree branches touching each other, the rat can easily climb and walk from one tree to another tree. Also, if you plant trees near the home, the rat can enter into it easily. They use chimneys, windows, and roofs to get inside your home.
Prune and trim branches of fruit trees
Rats are good for climbing and jumping. Thus, you should prune and trim some branches of fruit trees to eliminate these behaviors.
Also, some rats hide in the well-grown branches. Thus, pruning can disturb their behaviors. Further, make sure your fruit plants are isolated and do not touch any other object. Because if trees touch the ground, fence, wires, buildings, or other trees, rats can easily move to the fruit tree. Thus, maintaining 2,3 feet of space between ground or other objects is essential.
Use snap or bait traps
This is the most common method worldwide. Most people are using this method because of easiness. The snap or bait trap can catch rats that damage the fruit trees.
It would be best to place these traps across rat traffic areas or near the rats’ nest. Then check the trap daily. After catching a rat, you should release them hundreds of meters away from your garden. If not, they will come again.
Use natural deterrent
Some natural deterrents can use to eliminate rats from garden and fruit trees. These are,
- Peppermint oil
- Black pepper
- Cloves
- Cayenne paper
You can easily find these materials in the kitchen. Also, the usage of these materials is easy. You can apply or spray these substances near the rat nest. Then it will irritate the rats, noses, and airways. Because of that, it will discourage them from entering and living in these areas.
Further, you can practice this method for the nest near the root system. Then rats will not enter into these holes. Hence, this is a very effective and easiest way to accomplish without any specific tools and chemicals.
Cut overgrown grasses
You should cut the grass regularly to eliminate the hiding grounds of rats. If you cut grass as short, rats feel uncomfortable, and they may expose to predators. Hence cut and rake up overgrown grass are the best method to keep surrounding free from rodents.
Allow your cat or dog to catch the rats
Cats and dogs are natural predators that can help to control rats. In the food chain, rats are at a lower level. Thus, cats are the main predator of rats. Hence, you can allow them to catch the rats that live in your garden.
Attract the predatory birds
There are plenty of natural predators for rats. Thus, you can invite them to your garden to control the rats’ population naturally. For example, owls are good hunters, and they also very active at night time.
Hence, you can encourage owls by providing suitable habitats and foods in your garden. But make sure rats cannot climb these places easily.
Seal the compost bins
The compost bin is a rich source of various kinds of foods. Thus, rats can get the required nutrients from it. Further, they do not stop from there. Then they will try to come inside your home and garden too.
Thus, finally, rat population and behavior will be a headache to you. Therefore, you should seal your compost bin with a suitable lid. If foods are unavailable, rats will do not associated with that type of environment.
Keep your pets, chook food in a proper place
Sometimes you may have some pets in your houses, such as cats, dogs, and birds. But you should place their food in the proper place. Because rats also can eat these foods.
In addition to that, keep in mind rats have sharp teeth. Thus, they can chew the plastic baskets when they are hungry. Therefore use a glass bottle or any other suitable container that cannot damage easily. If they have a habit of coming to your home or garden, it is a risk for your fruit tree.
Cover the holes and drains in your garden
Generally, rats always try to hide in a dark place. Hence, if your garden has cracks, holes, or cavities, rodents may use them as a nest. Then they permanently inhabit these areas while damaging your garden plants and trees.
Therefore, you should cover or fill up those cavities and holes proper way. You can use soil, cement, or mesh to cover the pits. Then, rats unable to enter into it.
Add poison to rats
Typically poisonous compounds add to the water or food. Then you can place it in the area that rats inhabit. During the nighttime, they may come and eat those foods, and it causes them to kill. But this is not a long-term solution. But this method gives results quickly.
Furthermore, be careful when using poisonous. Also, keep away toxic from your kids and pets. In this method, rats eat poisons and walk away from the particular place. Then, rats take few hours to die completely.
Electronic Rodent Repellers
An electronic rodent repeller is a device that emits a range of radiation. These radiations can be electromagnetic, ionic, and ionic. Anyhow these technologies help to keep the pesky rodents far away from fruit trees.
Some tools come with flashing lights, and they can eliminate rats further. These devices need a battery, electric or solar power to charge. If you have other pets and children, this is the safest alternative to minimize the rat population. Further, you can purchase these tools from the market and also online stores.
Keep your garden clean
There are three major factors needs for rats to survive. These are food, water, and shelter. If your garden has these things, most probably rats may stay there. Thus, you should keep in mind these things.
Hence, the regular cleaning process helps to remove unwanted food particles, hiding places, and garbage from the garden. Then rats cannot survive in that environment. Especially if your garden has fruit trees, you should highly consider the cleanliness.
Check your neighborhood gardens
Sometimes, your neighborhood is the main reason for rats. These rats may live in neighbors’ gardens associates with debris and dirt. Then it will facilitate the growth of the rodents population. Hence you can discuss this matter with neighbors and take precautions.
Take support from a pest management expert
Sometimes you cannot decide the best method, and, sometimes any technique does not work for rats. Then you can take advice and support from the expert. Because they have good knowledge and experience about this subject.
Then the highly skilled pest management crew will assist you in protecting your fruit trees from rodents.
Things you will need to do to control rats
- Identify the areas that rats mainly associate by listening and observing
- Remove their habitats and shelters
- Please do not feed them
- Dispose of food, fruit, and debris in a proper way
