When people discover mice frequenting the garden, their first thought might be to use poison bait to get rid of them. However, this method can harm other animals and may not be effective. Experts suggest that if you want to adopt effective natural methods to eliminate mouse problems, you can plant five plants in the garden known as mouse repellers to drive them out of the garden.
Experts from Buzz Boss, a pest control company in Canada, have shared five plants that can add charm to the garden and also repel mice, as described below:
Lavender is a fragrant herb known for its calming and relaxing properties, but it is also one of the mouse’s foes because of its strong scent that mice dislike. In addition to mice, it can also be used to repel mosquitoes, flies, and moths.
Lavender is a perennial plant that can grow up to 60 cm tall. They have gray-green leaves and bloom with purple-blue flowers in late spring and early summer.
Marigolds come in many colors and shapes. They can deter pests like mice because they contain pyrethrum, a natural insecticide that affects the nervous system of pests like mice.
Marigolds are easy to plant and require plenty of sunlight and well-draining soil. They bloom in late summer to early fall. To keep these flowers healthy, you must water them regularly, fertilize once a month, and prune after flowering.
Crown of Thorns is a succulent that can grow up to 1 meter tall. They have a unique appearance with thorny structures that keep mice away. They also secrete a milky sap that is toxic and irritating to mice and other animals.
Therefore, you should avoid letting pets near the Crown of Thorns. After handling them, it is advisable to wash your hands as they can cause discomfort to humans as well.
Black pepper contains piperine, a compound that stimulates the pain receptors of animals like mice, making them sneeze and cough, causing them to flee.
Black pepper is a tropical vine that can grow up to 4 meters long. They have smooth leaves, produce small white flowers, then bear green berries that turn red when mature. These berries can be dried and ground into black pepper.
Black pepper plants require warm, humid, partially shady conditions with moist soil for optimal growth. They can be grown in pots, trellises, or greenhouses and harvested when the berries are ripe.
Onions are a culinary staple but are also mouse repellents due to their pungent smell and taste. The sulfur compounds in onions stimulate the eyes and nose of humans and also make mice uncomfortable, while the allicin they contain can cause anemia and oxygen deprivation in mice after consumption.
Onions are temperate plants that can be planted from seeds, cuttings, or transplants. They thrive in sunny, moist soil. When the bulbs are fully formed and the tops begin to turn yellow and collapse, they are ready for harvest. You can store them in a cool, dry, and dark place for several months.
After selecting these plants, Buzz Boss experts recommend strategically planting them around the yard, especially near potential mouse entry points, food sources, or resting areas, and regularly watering, pruning, and fertilizing them.
In addition to planting these plants, you can also place a few treasures in the garden that can drive mice out without using chemical pesticides that may harm other people or wildlife.
Previously, MyJobQuote, a British website, reported that pest control expert Robert Collins offered several mouse deterrents, including ammonia, essential oils, and owl feathers.
Owl feathers can deter mice because mice are very smart and can perceive threats in their surroundings, including predators like owls.