Rats will scurry away from your garden if you leave 1 kitchen item outside

You might not always see rats in your garden, but there may be signs they're scurrying around in your outdoor space without you knowing it. Getting rid of them is easier than you might think, and you can use one item that's likely already in your home to deter the pests from your garden.

There are plenty of natural ways to deter rats from your garden and you don't want to cause any harm to wildlife. Rats and pests can carry diseases and they can make your garden look messy by burrowing into parts of your lawn but it's important to deter them in a safe way.

From citronella oil to onions, there's a range of ways you can begin to put them off your garden but one easy method stands out.

Strong-smelling food items that rats typically avoid include onions, garlic, and vinegar.

Vinegar is an easy option for deterring pests and is an affordable solution to the problem.

But there are also other options. From a landscaping perspective, keeping your grass trimmed short can help reduce potential hiding spots for rats.

They also tend to dislike the scent of certain plants, such as lavender and mint, so planting these around your garden could act as a natural deterrent.

The smell is thought to be off-putting to them. You can place small quantities of these in areas across your garden.

If you don't have any vinegar but you do have onions. These contain sulphur compounds that can irritate a rat's eyes and nose.

While it's unlikely a rat would consume a large amount, large quantities can be toxic if digested, so it's safest to use small slices around your garden, experts say.

By following these simple tips, you can easily keep your garden in great shape without causing any harm to the wildlife in your outdoor space.