Rats are notorious for stashing away food underground and constructing burrows, behaviours that often result in damaged plants and crops in gardens.

Their waste doesn’t just infect the soil but also carries a risk of spreading diseases.

Some green-thumbed enthusiasts might lean towards traps and poisons to tackle these pests, risking collateral damage to other creatures.

However, gardening enthusiasts seem to agree a natural repellent to keep rats at bay, preventing them from invading homes.

Baffled on how to handle her garden’s rodent visitors, Maia Brown reached out to the Gardening Hints and Tips Facebook group seeking suggestions.

She posted: "Rats! We’ve got a rat/rats visiting our garden - we see it most days. It’s not nesting in or under my little shed, there's no food source in the garden and I stopped feeding the birds several weeks ago.

“I’m a bit nervous now about going into the garden but my main concern is for my dog and grandchild. Does anyone know how I can deter this rat from coming into the garden? Thanks.”

The common solution amongst fellow forum dwellers was clear - use peppermint to dismiss the rat nuisance, either as oil or plant.

Helen Ballard said: “Peppermint oil works a treat to keep the rats out for a long time.” 

Diane Moss advised: “I love peppermint oil for this. Rats hate the stuff. It worked in my garden and house.”

James Reid remarked: “They don’t like peppermint. Use it on cotton balls around the garden or grow some of these plants.”

Emma Gibson shared her top tip for keeping pesky rodents at bay, stating: “Liberal use of peppermint oil on bits of cotton wool deterred them from my garden after five minutes of using the stuff. I saw them sprinting away.”

It turns out mint is much more than a garden variety herb; its intense fragrance packs a punch. Rats, with their sharp noses, find the strong scent of mint simply too overpowering.

The distinctive mix of menthol and other compounds in mint serves as an organic repellent, banishing rats permanently from any area where this pungent plant prospers.