any plants or shrubs that repel vermin?

Hello fellow gardeners. I, along with many people in my area have a problem with vermin--rats and mice. Since there has been de-construction of old steel mills and the like, and sewer replacement the entire downriver area is fighting vermin and their close companion, the flea. I'm trying to find plants for my yard to help control these nasty pests so my indoor cats can finally have some relief from the itching and scratching. The fleas are so thick, we bring them in from outdoors I think. The best way to rid the yard of fleas is to rid the yard of the vehicles they choose to hitch hike on.

Preferably I would like some shrubbery to deter these pests from my yard, but anything will do if it works. Except trees--they are sending forth roots into my sewer system and I will be grateful when the trees are removed from the property hopefully very shortly.

Are you aware of any plants that can help keep these nasty critters at bay? I'm at my whits end here with this. I can't bear to think of rats eating my produce. Yuck!

 

I don't know about what would repel the vermin... but there are several plants that are good for repelling their passengers - the fleas. Some are: Mints, Catnip, Sage, Rosemary (Not Rosemary Pea or Rosemary Bog), Chamomile,
Lavender, Lemon Grass.

 

I always heard that mint repels mice, which is why I planted it all over my yard. Let me tell you, it is not true! I have found mice nests IN the mint patch!

 

I heard pennyroyal is supposed to repel fleas and other insects. I planted it around my house and I do not see the cats or dog scratching nor do I treat them. We do have chickens that roam and perhaps they help keep the flea population at bay, too. I did have guinea hens a few years ago for flea and tick control, but I found that they were way to noisy and such a nuisance that I got rid of them.
Castor Bean plants MAY help. We plant them in the garden to keep the moles out of the raspberries. There is a castor bean oil spray that is available for the yard for moles, too. Maybe it would be helpful for the rats and mice there. OR hot pepper spray? maybe try it. The castor beans are found in the heirloom seed racks at the store or from an heirloom catalog. just drop the seed in the ground anytime after you buy them and they will sprout as soon as the ground is warm enough. I have had them winter over and regrow from the plant they dropped from. I would suggest planting them around the perimeter of your yard, but they do need spaced about 3' for each plant and grow to about 6' tall. They are beautiful plants. The seeds are poisonous so don't let pets or children eat or play with them. The plants would be disgusting to eat as well as being poisonous, too, but I doubt if any thing would want to eat them. I have never seen anything nibble on them.

 

A small note on what NOT to plant are large leaved ground covers like ivy, because they are great areas for rats to make their burrows. Perrennial beds need to be monitored for critter nests also and kept clean.

Any vacate lots adjoining your property are hopefully kept cleared/mowed. A lot with brambles of any sort make great wildlife habitat, especially rats.

I had to really limit feeding the birds this winter because of rats, possums, raccoons and starlings. Some studies have shown there to be more wildlife in urban areas per square mile than in rural areas. Some animals seem to prefer city life and rats seem to be especially adaptable....After all they have traveled the world with us humans.

We have adopted a small terrier/chihuahua/Italian greyhound mix into our household. Her and the cat seem to be discouraging most uninvited guests. It wasn't planned, but now I understand why these small breds of dogs originated.

Good luck