There are lots of ways to get rid of pesky mice in your garden, but some of them can be very damaging to your wallet.
Luckily, one gardening guru has found a cheap and fun way to rid yourself of pests for good – and it only costs £1, in fact.
Mice can take over your garden if not dealt with quickly. Photo: GettyOne gardener shares the plants he swears by to keep mice at bay. Photo: Getty
Mice can be a real nuisance for homeowners, leaving behind trails of droppings and even eating plants.
If you do one, chances are there will be more.
This rodent has a gestation period of three weeks and can give birth to about 14 babies at a time.
Mouse populations can grow quickly and cause some pretty big problems.
So a gardener named Sarah took to a gardening tips and tricks Facebook page to ask for help.
“I would like to plant some vegetation behind the shed and along the fence to discourage rat infestations which are clearly on the rise,” she wrote.
“Can anyone give me advice on plants that will repel mice?”
“Part shade, part shade. Our garden is so small that the kids come out in the evenings and get in the way, so we can't just ignore them. In our previous garden, which was bigger, we just let it go.”
Keep it clean: How to prevent pest infestations this summer
Following advice from other gardening enthusiasts, Sarah decided to buy mint plants to keep pests at bay.
“My garden smells of peppermint now. I'll let you know if it works. Maybe it's wishful thinking, but it's easy to give it a try,” she said.
And as expected, the mint plants worked wonders for Sarah, who updated her post to let others know about the hack.
She said: “The mint plants are working! I've seen a few mice too but they were slower to run away when they got close to the plants.”
Experts say mint is a natural repellent for most rodents, helping to discourage mice from taking up residence outdoors.
Strong smells will overwhelm a rat's senses, forcing it to leave the area.
In fact, The Express says that simply planting a few mint plants around the perimeter of your garden and in your greenhouse is enough to keep them at bay.
Mint seedlings can be purchased from most garden centres, and supermarkets like Ocado sell the herb for just £1.60.
These aren't the only herbs we recommend: strongly scented plants such as garlic, basil, and thyme are also often used as repellents.
Adding these to strong plants in your garden can help deter mice from entering.
However, for those who are less experienced in gardening, there are some alternative methods.
This includes scattering leaves along fences as a simple solution, and replenishing your garden with leaves every few days to keep pests at bay.
Buying a pack of fresh mints for just 52p from Sainsbury's is an easy, low-cost way to keep pests at bay.
All of these methods are cheap, especially since humane mousetraps sold in DIY stores such as B&Q can cost as much as £18.95 apiece.
Keep pests away all summer long
If you want to keep your home pest-free this summer, here's what you need to know.
Wasps and hornets hate the smell of peppermint oil, so spraying it liberally around your patio or balcony will keep the wasps away.
Moths – White household vinegar, which is acidic, is effective at repelling moths. Soak paper towels in the vinegar and place them in closets as a repellent.
Flying Ants – Herbs and spices such as cinnamon, mint, chili pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves and garlic act as repellents.
Mosquitoes – The scents of plants, herbs and essential oils can help repel mosquitoes both indoors and outdoors. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
