Rats....

We have some unique pests to deal with in Australia. Post your experiences and treatments here for others to learn from.
Post Reply
User avatar
Reece
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 519
Joined: August 8th, 2012, 9:26 am
Favorite Species: Conifers.
Bonsai Age: 2
Location: Sydney

Rats....

Post by Reece »

Will rats bother bonsai trees? I'm asking because I'm thinking of keeping some of my trees in the back courtyard of my GFs shop and apparently there are a lot of rats in the lane that it's on.

I wouldn't think they would be interested in the trees. Just want to check if I'm wrong....

Thanks in advance!
User avatar
BonsaiElmo
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 88
Joined: April 3rd, 2011, 5:46 pm
Favorite Species: Fig
Bonsai Age: 2
Location: Wagga

Re: Rats....

Post by BonsaiElmo »

I've had them dig up sections of of my plants roots in diatomite in polystyrene boxes. They chewed on some of the poly boxes - and when I moved my plants I found they had a nest underneath the one of my large poly boxes, they had dug in and then boroughed a hole in the polystyrene . Good temperature regulation I guess.

I still have my plants in the same area - but raised off the concrete about a foot - and have not had any issue with rats.
ric
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 124
Joined: April 19th, 2009, 9:42 am
Favorite Species: camellia
Bonsai Age: 40
Bonsai Club: National,Illawarra,Sakura,
Location: Sydney Australia
Been thanked: 1 time

Re: Rats....

Post by ric »

Hi, I had a citrus bonsai - a lime that rats ate all the bark almost ringbarking it. Luckily it did grdually recover
mtarros
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 210
Joined: February 1st, 2011, 6:06 am
Favorite Species: JBP, Elms, Elaeagnus, Loropetalum chinensis
Bonsai Age: 6
Bonsai Club: BSQ, Redlands Bonsai Society
Location: Brisbane

Re: Rats....

Post by mtarros »

I have had rats before and they stripped a lot of the leaves and my apex on a good tree so they could use it for bedding for their babies.

Also don't use bessa blocks for the feet of your bonsai shelfs, the little sh*ts were inside the blocks with their babies.

I built all wooden & metal shelves so they don't nest in there again.
fae
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 208
Joined: November 26th, 2010, 3:11 pm
Favorite Species: Natives
Bonsai Age: 13
Bonsai Club: School of Bonsai
Location: Sydney
Has thanked: 82 times
Been thanked: 10 times

Re: Rats....

Post by fae »

Morning

When I have little night visitors, usually possums I like to season the leaves of my plants with a sprinkle of chilli powder.

I think it helps to deter these creatures.

Fiona
Paul W
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 405
Joined: December 11th, 2008, 7:54 am
Favorite Species: Crape Myrtle
Bonsai Age: 10
Bonsai Club: School Of Bonsai
Location: Sydney Australia
Has thanked: 3 times
Been thanked: 5 times

Re: Rats....

Post by Paul W »

Rats and Bonsai do not co- exist that well, I had them chew about 25 Figs last year and the trees will never be the same and they love Chilli and Garlic as well.
Buy some shares in the ratsak company. :mrgreen:
Last edited by Paul W on October 8th, 2014, 6:32 am, edited 1 time in total.
Sometimes I sits and thinks and sometimes I just sits.
A. A. Milne
User avatar
Reece
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Aussie Bonsai Fan
Posts: 519
Joined: August 8th, 2012, 9:26 am
Favorite Species: Conifers.
Bonsai Age: 2
Location: Sydney

Re: Rats....

Post by Reece »

Ok, sounds like I was wrong!

Ill just trial them I guess....

Thanks again.
Post Reply

Return to “Pests and Diseases”