Mice removal in Cambridge services should be a priority if you notice signs of rodent infestation. These include droppings and holes chewed through food storage containers. Mice are attracted to sources of food and water that human habitations often provide, but does that include the plants you raise in and around your home? Should you avoid growing certain plants or get rid of them if you already have them?
Do Houseplants Attract Mice?
If mice are already in your home and there is nothing else to eat, they might chew on the leaves or stems of your houseplants. However, these plants alone are unlikely to draw mice inside even though they have an incredible sense of smell. Mice can eat almost anything to stay alive, but they demonstrate clear preferences, and leafy greens are not their favourites. Mice are much more likely to be attracted to the food you keep in your home than your houseplants.
Are Mice Attracted to Garden Plants?
The plants that you raise outside are a different story. If you have a vegetable garden, there are certain plants that you might want to reconsider growing if you want to keep mice away. Along with berries and nuts, a mouse’s favourite food is usually seeds. Mice can eat these out of the ground after planting, and you might not even realize it right away because they can manage it without disturbing the soil. If you plant grass seed in your yard, it might be vulnerable to mice as well. If you grow fruit in your garden, mice might eat it, but it probably wouldn’t be their first choice.
Mice are also attracted to certain plants once they have grown. Their favourites include green beans, sunflowers, corn, and grains because of the seeds. Other garden vegetables that might attract mice include:
- Zucchini
- Cauliflower
- Potatoes
- Carrots
- Turnips
- Cabbage
- Peas
Your flower garden is not safe from mice either. They have been known to eat tulips if their preferred food is not available.
Are There Any Garden Plants That Repel Mice?
Unfortunately, a lot of the garden vegetables that you like the most are also most appealing to mice. However, it is possible to have a garden while still keeping mice away. One effective way is to raise plants that mice find unappealing.
Several garden plants have a strong odour or flavour that repels mice naturally. Fortunately, a lot of these plants are vegetables and herbs that are useful in cooking. Examples include sage, oregano, garlic, onions, and rosemary, as well as peppermint. Others are flowers that help to beautify your property in addition to helping to keep mice away. Daffodils, marigolds, and lavender have all been noted to repel mice. Planting these in your garden alongside your other flowers and your fruits and vegetables may help to discourage depredations by mice.
What Else Can You Do To Keep Mice Out of the Garden?
Mice are not only looking for food around human residences but shelter as well. You should clear out any debris that may serve as a suitable nesting ground, such as leaf, brush, and wood piles. If you have raised garden beds, you may want to line them with rodent-proof mesh on the bottom and along the sides. Otherwise, they may squeeze through holes in the side or dig underneath to eat the roots of the plants.
Why Do You Need Mice Removal Cambridge?
Mice can be a nuisance out in the garden, but they can cause serious problems if they decide to come inside. They can carry diseases that are harmful to humans and destroy insulation and other building materials. Contact Truly Nolen for rodent control services, including preventative actions to keep them from coming back.