Rats look for three things when choosing where to settle: food, water and shelter. The planting and outdoor features around a building can provide all three, often without anyone noticing. Dense hedges, thick mulch and fruit trees may make a property look attractive, but they can also give rodents places to hide, nest and travel unseen. Many property owners searching for how to get rid of rats focus on traps and baits, yet the layout of the surrounding landscape can play just as large a part in whether rats stay or move on.
Dense Ground Cover and Low Shrubs
Thick, low-growing plants create sheltered spaces close to the ground, where rats feel safe from predators and people. Planting of this kind can encourage harbourage in ways like these:
- Ground cover that hides burrow entrances from view.
- Shrubs planted tightly against walls, forming covered pathways along the building.
- Overgrown hedges with dense lower branches that are rarely trimmed.
- Plants such as ivy that form thick mats over soil and fences.
Mulch, Garden Beds and Soil
The materials used in garden beds also influence how easily rats can burrow and nest. Areas at ground level often provide conditions such as these:
- Deep layers of wood chip or bark mulch that are easy to burrow into.
- Loose, moist soil in beds placed directly against foundations.
- Raised beds with hollow edges or gaps underneath.
- Leaf litter and garden debris left to accumulate.
Trees and Climbing Plants
Rats, particularly roof rats, are agile climbers. Trees and vertical planting near a building can give them routes to higher entry points, including the following:
- Branches that overhang roofs, gutters or balconies.
- Climbing plants on walls that lead to vents, eaves or window ledges.
- Palm trees, whose dense fronds can be used for nesting.
- Trees planted close enough to the building to act as a bridge.
Food Sources in the Garden
Some landscaping choices provide a steady food supply alongside shelter. Rodent control becomes much harder when rats can feed close to where they nest, so it helps to reduce food sources like these:
- Fruit trees with fallen or overripe fruit left on the ground.
- Vegetable patches and herb gardens that are not regularly harvested.
- Bird feeders that scatter seeds onto the soil below.
- Compost heaps that include food scraps and are not enclosed.
- Pet food left outdoors near planted areas.
Water Features and Drainage
Water is just as important to rats as food. Garden features and poor drainage can provide a reliable supply in places such as these:
- Ponds, fountains and decorative water features.
- Leaking irrigation lines or garden taps.
- Plant saucers and containers that collect rainwater.
- Low areas where water pools after rain.
- Blocked garden drains and gutters that hold water for days.
- Damp areas under dense planting that rarely dry out.
Hard Landscaping and Storage
Not all harbourage comes from plants. Hard landscaping and outdoor storage can also create sheltered gaps, including these:
- Rock gardens and stone walls with spaces between the stones.
- Stacked timber, bricks or unused planters left against walls.
- Decking with open gaps underneath.
- Sheds or storage areas with poorly sealed bases.
- Bin enclosures built from loose slats or with gaps at ground level.
Designing a Less Inviting Landscape
Small adjustments to planting and maintenance can make a building’s surroundings far less attractive to rats. Keeping a clear strip between planting and walls, trimming shrubs above ground level, managing fallen fruit and sealing gaps in hard landscaping can all reduce harbourage. Combined with regular inspection and professional treatment where needed, these changes help address the conditions that allow rat activity to continue. Reviewing the landscape before planting new beds or features can also prevent fresh harbourage from forming.
Reach out to Rentokil to schedule a rodent inspection of your property’s grounds with our team.
