Rats will not come back to your garden if you use plant pot trick

They burrow through raised beds, they spread disease and they leave unsanitary droppings all over your lovely lawn, patio and decking.

There are many reasons why people try to stop rats from coming into their garden, and those are just a few of them. But if you're battling rats visiting your garden space, there are some steps you can take now to divert them away from your home and stop them coming back.

While the usual tips about clearing away excess food or bird feed, and blocking up holds on garages and sheds still apply and are all useful, there is a method involving plantpots that you probably didn't know about.

According to BBC Gardeners' World, rats are 'neophobic'. That means they have a fear of the unfamiliar and of new things. That means disruption to their territory is liable to scare them off.

As a result, the simple act of just moving some plantpots around can be enough to scare rats out of your garden.

Gardeners' World says: "Rats are 'neo-phobic', which means they have a fear of new things. They don't like disruption to their territory, so place obstacles in their runs and move things around in the garden frequently."

Such obstacles can include plantpots, garden ornaments, benches and other objects you might have set out along the edges of patios, deckings and near sheds.

Speaking of decking, Gardeners' World says decking is a prime spot for rats to nest because it's sheltered and often has food bits fall between the gaps in the wood.

They add: "The space beneath decking is perfect for rats - it's sheltered, hard to reach and food scraps can fall between the planks. Sweep up any fallen food after alfresco meals. Block access if possible or consider installing a patio instead.

"Securely block any holes in the walls, floors and doors of your garden buildings. To prevent entry, you could add a metal 'kick plate' to your shed door."

Other ways to keep rats at bay include encouraging rat predators, such as foxes. Though some view foxes as a nuisance in themselves, rifling through bins, going after chickens or pets and hunting for food in your garden space, foxes are actually a great rat control.

They said: "Rats form a substantial part of a fox's diet, so - where possible - it's a good idea to give foxes space to live in your garden or allotment, too. Pets such as cats can also deter rats. Some cats will kill and may even eat rats, but they are not as effective predators as foxes."