Overview

• A Facebook plea in Garden Makeover Ideas On A Budget sparked widespread tips to use chilli powder in UK gardens.
• Pest-control firms including Rentokil and Enviro Safe recommend chilli flakes, cayenne powder or oil as irritants to rats’ respiratory systems.
• Gardeners are advised to sprinkle spices around air bricks, pipe entries and under sheds and reapply after rain to maintain an effective barrier.
• Many gardeners report that rats avoided areas treated with the spice and skipped bird feed mixed with it.
• Experts note that the method relies on professional guidance and anecdotal reports rather than independent scientific trials.