Mice! One of the most hated pests (and feared too!) in the world by humans.
But interestingly, mice fear us more than we fear them. This is why these critters sneak around corners, silently raiding trash cans, kitchens, and fruit gardens.
Now, you can’t be standing guard all the time, so is there any way to deter them?
Believe it or not, there is a natural way to repel mice, and one of them is by using herbs!
When it comes to herbs, your mind goes to cooking something delicious. But hold your thoughts. We’re talking about keeping mice at bay, so here are 5 herbs that can do just that:
- Oregano
- Lemongrass
- Sage
- Basil
- Lavender
These herbs are found in almost every home to add flavor and aroma. From now on, these same qualities will help you eliminate the mice!
Let’s learn how to use these herbs to prevent nasty rodents from invading your homes, gardens, and kitchens!
5 Herbs That Mice Hate & Keep Them Away
You’d think mice are only afraid of cats, dogs, and people, but you can also use herbs to keep them away.
These herbs are as follows:
1. Oregano
One of the most commonly used Italian seasonings, oregano has a potent and distinct smell that mice find repulsive. Little did the Italians know the versatility of this herb that it can be used in the kitchen for cooking and repelling rodents!
After all, mice love kitchens due to the abundance of food morsels and leftovers. So it’s only practical to sprinkle oregano in potential mice entry points as a protective barrier.
How To Use
For gardens, you can sprinkle some on the soil and around your fruit and vegetable plants to deter rats from destroying your produce.
Better yet, you can grow this herb plant in your garden and have some in small clay pots to keep in your house.
Mice have over 10 million sensory neurons in their nose, allowing them to detect predators at a distance of 10 feet and follow food odors from as far as 50 feet!
2. Lemongrass
Just like their close namesake lemons, which are known to be antibacterial and antimicrobial, lemongrass acts as nature’s defense against pests and critters like mice!
This herb contains the natural oil citronella in its leaves, giving off a fresh, strong, and lemony scent that mice find unappealing.
How To Use
The lemongrass plant can grow up to 5 feet, so planting it around your garden can greatly deter mice from invading your fruits and vegetables.
Even though this herb needs to be grown annually, you can also use dried lemongrass. Place them in corners and potential entry points as a mice deterrent.
3. Sage
Sage, even the name sounds so magical! This magical herb can provide an invisible yet aromatic barrier against pesky critters like rodents!
The best thing about sage is that it’s not picky about where it’s planted; with the right soil and ample room, you can place it in pots and the open.
How To Use
Being a perennial plant (it can grow all year round), you can grow the herb in your garden to ward off pests.
As long as the temperatures don’t reach extreme levels, it can bloom into a 3 feet high and wide bush, spreading its fragrance as an invisible shield!
You can cut and use the leaves inside your home for mice prevention. Its smell is pungent to rodents, so that you can use potted sage or even dry sage leaves at vulnerable locations on your property.
4. Basil
Ah! Another delightful culinary herb that can act as a deterrent against mice infestations.
This herb can thrive inside and outside your house with plenty of water and sunlight.
If you have used or had any dish with basil, you’ll know the strong smell it gives.
While this suits our culinary needs, mice would rather stay away!
How To Use
Basil can be grown in small pots and placed inside the house where you think mice might get in.
Additionally, you can place dried basil at key locations around your house, though fresh leaves work best.
You can soak some fresh basil leaves in a spray bottle of 1 part isopropyl alcohol and 1 part water and leave them overnight. This concoction can be sprayed at entry points and spots frequented by mice.
5. Lavender
Who doesn’t love the sweet aromatic scent of lavender? The pestilent mice, that’s who!
The lavender herb is pleasant to look at due to its vibrant purple color, but it can also fill the air with a lovely fragrance, projecting a scented barrier to repel mice.
Growing the lavender plant is a bit tricky as it requires moderate weather all year round to flourish. So if you face harsh winters, you can grow them or move them into pots and bring them inside.
How To Use
Growing lavender in your garden can prevent the pesky mice from invading your hard-grown produce. The pretty scented flowers can be trimmed off and placed along paths vulnerable to mice incursions.
Having them in pots, you can place the herb anywhere inside your house, like next to your windows and doorways.
Conclusion
Mice are the bane of homes, kitchens, and gardens, so much so that they can cause the spread of numerous diseases. If you don’t want to go the extermination route, then here are 5 herbs that can repel mice:
- Oregano
- Lemongrass
- Sage
- Basil
- Lavender
If the mice infestation has reached extreme levels in or around your property, simple herbs won’t cut it. You’ll need to go all out and call an exterminator to get rid of the mice for good!
Frequently Asked Questions
What Smells Will Keep the Mice at Bay?
Mice have one of the strongest noses in the animal kingdom, so there are certain smells they stay away from, such as:
- Bleach
- Ammonia
- Peppermint
- Mothballs
- Citronella (lemongrass)
How To Get Rid of Mice for Good?
To get rid of mice for good, you’ll need to do the following:
- Keep your property clean by removing all food sources.
- Use herbs and essential oils.
- Get a cat.
- Use traps and baits.
- Call a pest control specialist.
