Rat populations explode during our citrus harvest season because food is so plentiful. Many of you have probably noticed large holes in oranges and grapefruit where rats have hollowed out the fruit to feed on the seeds. These seeds contain Niacin, and rats love to eat them in mass.
The roof rat, sometimes called the black rat, is a common vertebrate pest in citrus and nut orchards. In citrus, it builds leaf and twig nests in trees or it can nest in debris piles, thick mulch on the ground, or in shallow burrows under the tree, especially in hot weather.
Leaving fruit on the tree for too long after they are ready to be picked can attract rats. Be sure to pick your fruit immediately to keep rats from picking them for you! Rats are easily lured into traps with the right bait.
Rats will also gnaw on the bark and branches of citrus trees. Contrary to this, it has been reported that rats will eat the pulp of oranges and pomegranates but not the rind or outer covering. It is not understood why but lemon peels and pomegranate juice is high in Vitamin C and calcium.
Plant ivy, palm trees, juniper bushes, and cypress trees to attract rats. These plants and trees make wonderful homes for them. 11. Leave ripped or ill-fitted vent screens alone so rats can have easy access into crawl spaces.
Let's get started! Rat populations explode during our citrus harvest season because food is so plentiful. Many of you have probably noticed large holes in oranges and grapefruit where rats have hollowed out the fruit to feed on the seeds. These seeds contain Niacin, and rats love to eat them in mass.
In a pure and concentrated form, citrus oils work well at naturally repelling rats, and they don't smell bad like some other natural rat repellents.
Sheets of metal can be wrapped around the trunks of the fruit trees to keep rats from climbing into the tree from the ground. This should only be used after trimming. Branches that are touching wires, the home or other trees will allow the rats to travel in that way instead.
Winter in Arizona brings good weather, beautiful outdoors and ripe, delicious citrus. But that citrus can attract some ugly visitors: Rodents.
First, you can plant herbs around your garden, sort of like a protective wall to repel rodents. Herbs that have the strongest smells such as mint (especially peppermint), catnip, rosemary, sage, lavender, oregano, and basil are the most effective plants at keeping these unwelcome creatures away.
You can add metal sheets or sturdy plastic to the trunks of your fruit trees, to help prevent rodents from climbing. Prune and Trim Branches: if your tree has droopy branches, rats may see this as a way to eat any fallen fruit while going unseen since the branches will inadvertently hide them.
Ants are most likely to show up in your citrus tree when aphids or scale bugs are already there. These sap-sucking pests produce honeydew, a sweet liquid that ants eat. In fact, the ants so prize this food source that they will "herd" the aphids from leaf to leaf and protect them from predators.
Other effective oils include lemon and lavender which are great to keep rats away because they “can't stand the smell”. Scents such as peppermint and lemon tend to be very strong.
That said, the most common places where rats like to hide in your house during the day include: air ducts; behind cabinets and cooking stoves; under refrigerators; inside woodpiles; in piles of clutter; in storage boxes; in ventilation systems; inside hollow walls; in drains; in wall and ceiling crawl spaces; and in ...
This makes peppermint oil, chili powder, citronella, and eucalyptus the most common natural rodent repellents. Chemical smells, such as ammonia, bleach, and mothballs also work as mice deterrents.
Mint and other aromatic plants
A lot of animals are repelled by the scent of mint and squirrels are one of them. You could try planting some mint under your fruit trees or make a spray similar to the hot pepper spray using peppermint or spearmint essential oils and water.
Roof rats are primarily nocturnal animals, meaning they are most active at night. They are agile climbers and are often found in attics, trees, and aboveground nesting sites.
Peppermint oil is a popular natural rat deterrent. This powerful essential oil is safe to use around humans and pets, and it's highly effective against rats & mice. To use it to repel rodents, mix equal parts peppermint oil and water in a spray bottle.
Outside, roof rats can be found nesting high up in trees. However, these rodents can also be found living in burrows under plants, dense vegetation, and in woodpiles.
One of the best ways to make homemade fruit tree sprays is to use common household ingredients. First, mix one cup of vegetable oil with one gallon of water. Next, add a tablespoon of pure cinnamon oil to the water and vegetable oil. The vegetable oil will suffocate insects while the cinnamon will kill pests.
In many environments, chocolate or nut butter proves to be a great rat lure because it gives off such an attractive, distinctive aroma.
The smell of peppermint, chili pepper, eucalyptus, citronella, and sagebrush are all effective at keeping rats away if applied in the right concentration. They are also deterred by chemical smells like ammonia and bleach.
You can repel rats from your home and garden with scents they dislike, such as clover, garlic, onion, hot peppers containing capsaicin, house ammonia, used coffee grounds, peppermint, eucalyptus, predator (cat) scent, white vinegar, and citronella oil.