Rats annoyingly invade gardens at all times of the year to seek shelter and sustenance.

Act swiftly if you spot these pests as their rapid breeding and disease-carrying potential can seriously harm your garden's soil.

While poison is a common solution, experts strongly advise against it without professional guidance due to the risks it poses to local wildlife, neighbourhood cats, and your pets.

However, if you're looking for a more natural, safe yet effective way to prevent a rodent problem in your garden, consider planting certain plants that deter rats and other unwanted pests.

Pest control experts at Buzz Boss have revealed four plants that not only “add charm” to your garden but also “serve as formidable allies in your battle against rats”, as they “repel” and “keep them at bay”.

1. Onion

This kitchen staple is “a nemesis of rats”, according to the experts. They said: “It’s a powerful rat repellent because of its pungent smell and taste.”

The pros explained that onions contain sulphur compounds that irritate the eyes and nose (of rats) and allicin, which can cause anaemia and oxygen deprivation in rats if ingested.

Onions are a cool-season crop that thrives in full sun and rich, moist soil. They can be grown from seeds, sets, or transplants.

When the bulbs are fully formed and the tops begin to yellow and fall over, it’s time to harvest. Store them in a cool, dry, dark place for several months.

2. Chrysanthemums

Chrysanthemums' stunning array of colours and forms are not just eye candy but also serve as “effective rat repellents” due to their “high pyrethrin content”. This natural insecticide disrupts the nervous system of rats and other pests.

The potent pyrethrin is concentrated in the flowers’ yellow centres, so opt for varieties with prominent disks.

Chrysanthemums are “super easy to grow”, requiring full sun and well-drained soil. They flower from late summer to autumn and are perfect for borders, containers, or beds.

Water these plants regularly for optimal health, fertilise them monthly, and prune them post-blooming.

3. Black pepper

Black pepper is more than a kitchen staple; it’s a “powerful rat deterrent”. The spice contains piperine, which “stimulates the pain receptors of rats and other mammals, causing them to sneeze, cough, and scurry away immediately”.

This tropical vine can reach lengths of up to four meters, sporting glossy green leaves and small white flowers. These flowers give way to green berries that ripen to red, which are then dried and ground to produce black pepper.

Black pepper thrives in warm, humid conditions, with a preference for partial shade and nutrient-rich, damp soil. It can be cultivated in pots, on trellises, or within greenhouses, and the berries can be picked once they've fully matured.