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- #11
England. Our garden is a lot tidier than when we moved in 2 years ago. There was a 6.5’ tall by 12’ long by 4.5’ deep pile of wood that was rotting. We took 3 days to clear that. There are two massive mounds of dirt in the back garden that rats have been using. We have been working towards removing the mounds, but they have all sorts of things in them (glass, metal, screws, old tools) so we’re having to be careful. I couldn’t do much when we moved in because there was a bumble bee hive in one. It was just a dumping ground for the last person who lived here. This neighbour told me to be careful because the rats killed his flock years ago. Now he’s told my husband in all of the 50 years he’s been living there, he’s never seen a rat on his property!What state or country does the OP live in? Might make a difference in the advice, it reads as non U.S. perhaps? Most communities will have laws requiring yards and gardens being kept in a manner to deter rats, usually by having stored items like wood piles up off the ground to allow natural predators to do their job.
To deal with rodents you choke off their access to food. Nothing else will work long term.
Is there a best way to prevent the rats getting in my raised beds other than picking the fruits? Last season they did get in one and ate the unripened squash. Your comment only just reminded me.