Hey everyone!
I’m struggling with rats wreaking havoc in my vegetable greenhouse. They’re nibbling on seedlings, digging up root systems, and even chewing through irrigation lines! I’ve tried snap traps and peppermint oil, but they keep coming back. With my tomato crop at risk, I need safe, effective solutions that won’t harm my plants or beneficial insects.
Rats hate hardware cloth! Line the greenhouse floor and walls with 1/4-inch mesh. Bury it 12 inches deep outside to block burrowing. Also, elevate compost bins on cinder blocks, no more rat buffets!
@EcoGrower Brilliant! Did you seal the greenhouse door edges too? Mine has a small gap at the bottom.
Bucket traps with sunflower seeds + water work wonders. Rats jump in for the seeds and drown. Place them near entry points, away from planters.
Plant mint around the greenhouse perimeter, rats despise the smell. Indoors, use clove oil sprays on non-edible surfaces. Reapply after watering!
Rats invade greenhouses in fall/winter for warmth. Preemptively install heated rodent deterrent mats under doors. They deliver mild shocks but safe for humans.
Skip poison, it risks contaminating soil. Use live traps with peanut butter, then relocate rats 2+ miles away. Check local laws first!
Rats chew drip lines for water. Switch to copper tubing, they hate the taste! For gaps, seal with silicone caulk + steel wool.
Sprinkle cayenne pepper powder around seedlings. Rats avoid the heat, but plants don’t mind! Mix with garlic powder for extra punch.
Install solar-powered motion lights inside. Rats flee the sudden brightness. Pair with wind chimes for noise deterrence!
Update: Lined floors with hardware cloth + set bucket traps. Caught 5 rats in a week! Anyone try biological controls like barn owls?
Owl boxes nearby cut my rat population by 80%! Also, remove weeds around the greenhouse, they’re rat highways.