Fighting Rodents: How to Protect Cannabis from Pests

06. 11. 2023

Did you know that mice and rats can significantly damage your cannabis plants? Rodents are one of the biggest nightmares for cannabis growers. They eat crops, leave droppings everywhere, spread disease and can hide in the most inaccessible places. Not only that, but they also reproduce insanely fast. Like any other plant, cannabis needs to be protected from pests. In this article, we'll tell you how mice and rats damage your cannabis plants and also give you tips on how to protect your cannabis from them.

Mice and rats as cannabis pests

Most growers are wary of aphids, mites and crickets. However, they usually do not take into account the possible presence of roaming rodents. Mice and rats are rodents that are constantly looking for food. As a rule, they prefer man-made waste, but once they have exhausted this option, they start feeding on plant material. Mice and rats can do a lot of damage in the garden; they cheerfully eat the leaves of seedlings and chew through tough stems. If you want to make sure they don't ruin your growing efforts, you need to learn how to discourage rodents from eating your plants.

What are the signs that rodents have attacked cannabis plants?

The potential damage caused by mice and rats varies, and includes minor damage and complete destruction of plants. However, there are different ways to tell if rodents have attacked your plants. The first thing to do is to look for signs of infestation on your cannabis plants. For example:

bite marks on the stems
chewed buds,
the appearance of faeces,
mouse burrows in the soil,
pathways in the soil between the food source and the rodent's hiding place.

How to protect cannabis from rodents?

If you notice any of the above signs, it's more than obvious that rodents are getting their hands on your cannabis plants. Therefore, you need to act immediately before rodents cause further damage. Below are a number of ways to get rid of rodents so that your plants can grow without problems.

Get a cat

It's no secret that cats love to hunt mice. So if you want to get rid of mice without having to lift a finger, just get an outdoor cat that can handle them. Cats are true predators of various rodents, and they will chase away not only mice, but also squirrels, rats and other pests that could destroy your cannabis plants.

Set traps

Another method is to use traps or poison to kill rodents. A variety of rodent control traps are available, from spring baits to electric traps. You can also use humane mouse traps that do not kill rodents. Instead, they lure the rodents into a cage and lock them inside. However, this method will leave you with the problem of a live rodent, which you will have to move from the cage to the wild, preferably as far away from your garden as possible.

Grow plants that repel mice

Most mice and rats are repelled by intense herbal scents such as basil, comfrey and thyme. To keep rodents away, plant these herbs around your garden. Once rodents smell them, they will avoid your garden.

Plant onions and garlic

If you can't keep mice away from your outdoor plants, try planting onions and garlic in your garden. Onions have a pungent aroma and rodents hate that. You don't even need to plant onions, often you can just put them near your growing space and the mice will smell them and stay away from your cannabis plants.

How to prevent rodent damage to cannabis plants?

Before you tackle the problem of how to get rid of mice, it's a good idea to first find out what exactly attracts mice to your garden. Below are a few ways to prevent mice and rats in your cannabis garden:

Store compost with a sealable lid. If you want to prevent your composter from becoming a rodent haven, you need to limit the storage of certain ingredients. These animals are attracted to grain, bread, meat, fish, eggs and dairy products. So limit your composting to vegetable scraps and garden waste.
Place bird feeders high enough to prevent rats and mice from getting to them. Birds are not the only ones who enjoy seeds.
Keep your garden clear of fallen fruit, pet food, fallen tree branches and dog or cat faeces. Overturned flower pots, discarded gutters and downpipes and piles of bricks are also popular places for these furry enemies. Keep your garden clean to keep your plants protected from unwanted rodents.
Remove and clean out pet food bowls. Failure to do so will attract not only mice, but also ants, squirrels and raccoons.
Remove water sources. While mice get by with 3 ml of water a day, rats need up to 60 ml. To minimize the likelihood of rodent infestation, remove bird feeders and any empty containers that collect rainwater.

Protect cannabis plants from rodents

Mice and rats are one of the main pests of cannabis plants, so it is very important to keep them away from your plants. The cannabis grower must carefully monitor cannabis plants for any signs of rodent infestation. The above precautions can prevent mice and rats, which may choose cannabis plants as their food. With this new knowledge you should be able to get through the next growing season without too many problems.

Mice and rats will be easy to deal with! So you don't have to worry about them destroying your cannabis plants and you can start growing! Get your cannabis seeds with up to 1% THC and get started!