Expert gardener Peter Dowdall, believes rats are present in virtually every garden in Ireland and says simple garden hygiene is the key to rat prevention and control.
Many people have to deal with unwanted rats in their garden (stock image)(Image: Dave Harrison-Ward via Getty Images)
As milder temperatures tempt more Irish people to enjoy their outdoor spaces, one Irish gardening expert has warned that the chances of rats or rodents lurking in your garden is far more common than most people think.
Peter Dowdall, better known as The Irish Gardener, has called on homeowners to focus on fundamental garden cleanliness instead of chasing quick solutions, cautioning that rodents are a regular presence in gardens right across the country.
He said: “Rats, it comes down to, and it’s not a miracle thing, but if you want the proper answer to it, rats are in probably 100% of gardens and they come out at night time when they are not seen and the garden is quiet.
“It is all about making sure you are not giving them a reason to stay in your garden, that you are not giving them a reason to nest, it comes down to a lot of hygiene really.”, reports the Irish Mirror.
Drawing on over three decades of hands-on work in Irish gardens, Dowdall explained that the secret to deterring rats lies in eliminating what lures them in – chiefly food, water and somewhere to hide. He highlighted that one of the biggest blunders is getting rid of food scraps improperly, which can swiftly attract rodents and prompt them to make themselves at home. He said: “Never throw cooked food waste into an open compost bin because that will draw rats. If you give them a food source, a water source, and somewhere safe to nest, then they will stay, so it is all about cleanliness in the garden really in terms of hygiene.
“Not leaving stuff that would be attracted to rats and nesting sites and food sources. If you can make sure you are not leaving them in the garden, then that’s as much as you can do really against rats.”
His guidance arrives as garden centres throughout Ireland experience a seasonal spike in footfall from people keen to spruce up their gardens. Yet Dowdall warned that this growing enthusiasm for gardening can occasionally result in choices that harm the environment.
He drew attention to what he characterised as a popular but troublesome lawn treatment product, frequently marketed as a handy one-stop solution.
He explained: “When it comes to the lawn, I would imagine that one of the best selling products in garden centres at this time of year is what is called the triple action products which are bags of lawn feed with the moss killer and the weed killer built in.
“They are very ecologically damaging. It is like blanket bombing your lawn. So, you are feeding the grass which is grand, but you are also applying chemical moss killers and chemical weed killers to the lawn, many in areas that don’t need it. They don’t have weeds or moss so you are just blanket bombing it.” Dowdall explained that the implications of these products extend beyond needless chemical application, cautioning they could present hazards in household environments. He noted that using treatments on lawns unnecessarily – particularly in spaces frequented by families – requires careful thought, especially in areas where youngsters are prone to be playing.
- Find more great gardening tips and tricks at theirishgardener.com
- To book a garden or planting design consultation with Peter visit www.theirishgardener.com/pages/garden-design-by-peter-dowdall
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