When the cold arrives, it is not only us who look for shelter. Rats and mice do too, they look for warmth, refuge, and food. That is why gardens, vegetable patches, and green areas around the house become the favorite place for these much hated animals. You do not see them, you do not notice them, but they end up destroying plants, completely chewing crops, and causing the occasional scare at home unless you have cats trained for hunting. But we bring you a trick to get rid of this pest without needing poison or chemical products, and we assure you that you already have it at home. Yes, it is garlic. Just like Count Dracula, rodents are repelled by this smell.
Why mice appear in winter
Basically for survival. They leave open spaces and move closer to more protected places where food is easier to access. That is why they are always in gardens, vegetable patches, or terraces, or even inside your dishwasher hose. They look for seeds, roots, food scraps. They are not picky and anything will seem like a very good buffet to them.
A big problem
Of course, because at first you do not notice it. You only see a bitten leaf, disturbed compost. But when you realize it, there are already destroyed plants or crops that have “mysteriously” disappeared. And where does this disappearance come from? From mice. The more time passes without stopping them, the more comfortable they feel and the harder it is to get rid of them.
How do I know if there are mice in my garden?
Clearly because they leave clues. Small elongated droppings, holes in the ground, bitten stems, or remains of nests made with leaves. Of course, if you see the fruits of your plants bitten, stay alert.
A natural repellent
Among all the natural remedies out there, garlic stands out for a very simple reason, it works. Its intense smell is unbearable for mice and rats, which avoid areas where they detect it. It is not toxic, it poses no risk to other pets, and it is also very easy to get.
Mice have a very good sense of smell, which is why Remy is a chef in Ratatouille, and garlic releases sulfur compounds that are very aggressive to them and disorient them. It does not kill them, it does not harm them, but it does put them on alert and makes them look for another place. We do not want any animal to suffer here, we just want them to look for another place.
How to use garlic in the garden
There are two ways. The first is to plant garlic cloves around the perimeter of the garden, near the vegetable patch, pots, or areas where you have seen possible mouse activity. They do not need to sprout, just their smell will already work.
The second option is to prepare a garlic infusion. Chop several cloves, boil them in water, let it cool, and spray the liquid at the base of plants, along the edges of the ground, and at usual entry points.
Does it work?
Yes, and it also fits with responsible and ecological gardening. It does not pollute, it does not harm other insects, and there is no need to use chemical products or hurt any animal!
Rodenticides may seem like a quick solution, but they carry significant risks for your pets, children, or other animals, and they are also quite polluting, avoid them!
The perfect time to act
It is now. Winter is key, before spring arrives and their reproductive period begins. It is vital to keep them away to avoid a much bigger infestation in a few months. As we told you, there is no need for aggressive methods. A couple of garlic cloves planted and that is it. You take care of your plants and you also take care of your environment.
And remember, as much as they disgust you, these little animals have the same right to exist as you do. They are just looking for shelter, and we just want them to find shelter somewhere else.