Plants That Repel Voles

If you’re tired of voles damaging your garden, you need plants that repel voles. These natural solutions can help protect your flowers and vegetables without harsh chemicals.

Voles are small rodents that create tunnels and eat plant roots. They can ruin a lawn or garden bed quickly. Many gardeners struggle with them every year.

The good news is that certain plants act as natural deterrents. They use strong scents or unpalatable tastes that voles avoid. Integrating these into your garden is a smart, sustainable strategy.

This list includes reliable plants known to discourage vole activity. Planting them around the perimeter of your garden or interspersed among vulnerable plants creates a protective barrier.

1. Daffodils (Narcissus)

Daffodils are beautiful spring bloomers that voles strongly dislike. All parts of the daffodil, especially the bulbs, contain toxic alkaloids. Voles will steer clear of areas where these are planted.

Plant bulbs in the fall for spring flowers.
They are perennial and will come back yearly.
Great for borders around vegetable patches.

2. Crown Imperial (Fritillaria imperialis)

This striking plant has a distinct musky odor that is unpleasant to many pests, including voles. Its tall, dramatic appearance makes it a garden standout while it works as a protector.

Prefers well-drained soil and full sun.
The scent is noticeable to humans too, so plant it thoughtfully.

3. Alliums (Ornamental Onions)

This family includes garlic, onions, and chives. Their strong smell is a powerful vole repellent. Ornamental alliums add beautiful purple globes to your garden design.

Easy to grow from bulbs or seeds.
Plant them among tulips or lilies to protect those vole-favorite bulbs.

4. Castor Bean Plant (Ricinus communis)

Castor bean plants contain ricin, which is toxic. While effective, caution is needed if you have pets or small children. It’s a fast-growing, large plant that makes a big statement.

Treat as an annual in most climates.
It can grow very tall, providing a backdrop.

5. Grape Hyacinth (Muscari)

These small, blue spring flowers are resilient and vole-resistant. They naturalize easily, spreading over time to form a dense ground cover that voles tend to avoid.

6. Rosemary and Thyme

These fragrant herbs are usefull for cooking and for pest control. Their strong aromatic oils are not appealing to voles. They thrive in sunny, well-drained spots.

Can be planted in garden beds or containers.
Evergreen in milder climates.

How to Use These Plants Effectively

Just planting one or two won’t create a strong defense. You need a strategic plan to get the best results.

Create a Protective Border

Plant a dense border of vole-repelling plants around the area you want to protect. This could be your entire garden, or just a specific bed. Think of it as a fragrant fence.

Use a mix of plants for a longer season of protection.
Combine bulbs for spring with herbs for summer.

Interplant with Vulnerable Crops

Place repellent plants directly among those that voles love, like hostas, tulips, and root vegetables. This confuses and deters them as they tunnel.

Focus on Bulb Protection

When planting bulbs voles eat, like tulips, always surround them with daffodil or allium bulbs. The voles will encounter the repellent plants first and often abandon their digging.

Additional Natural Deterrents to Combine

For a really strong defense, combine your plants with other natural methods. A multi-layered approach is most succesful.

Soil and Habitat Management

Voles like dense ground cover and mulch where they can hide. Managing your garden’s layout can make it less inviting.

Keep grass mowed and remove thick mulch from garden beds in fall.
Till soil regularly in the fall to distrupt tunnels and nests.
Reduce excess moisture, as voles prefer damp soil.

Physical Barriers

Barriers are a surefire way to protect prized plants. They require effort to install but provide long-term security.

For trees and shrubs: Bury hardware cloth (1/4 inch mesh) at least 10 inches deep and 6 inches out from the trunk.
For raised beds: Line the bottom and sides with hardware cloth before adding soil.
For bulbs: Plant them inside wire cages or baskets you can buy or make.

Natural Predators

Encouraging predators is a free and effective control method. It works with the natural ecosystem.

Install perches to attract owls and hawks.
Adopt a outdoor cat (but be mindful of birds).
Create a welcoming enviroment for snakes, which eat voles.

Plants Voles Love (And Should Be Protected)

Knowing what voles prefer helps you know where to focus your efforts. These plants are like a buffet for voles.

Hostas
Tulips and Crocus bulbs
Lilies
Potatoes, carrots, and other root vegetables
Bark of young trees and shrubs (especially in winter)

If you grow these, be extra diligent about surrounding them with repellent plants and using barriers.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Even with the right plants, a few errors can reduce there effectiveness. Here’s what not to do.

Planting too sparsely: One daffodil here and there won’t create a strong scent barrier. Plant in groups or drifts.
Neglecting maintenance: Letting your repellent herbs get overgrown or woody reduces their aromatic oils. Trim them regularly.
Using only one method: Relying solely on plants, especially in a severe infestation, might not be enough. Combine strategies.
Forgetting about winter: Voles are active year-round. Leave some protective plants, like rosemary, in place, and keep using barriers.

Seasonal Guide for Vole Control

Your approach should change with the seasons to stay ahead of the problem.

Spring

Plant new repellent herbs and flowers.
Check for and repair winter damage to barriers.
Look for new tunnel activity as the ground thaws.

Summer

Maintain your repellent plants with watering and pruning.
Continue to monitor for signs of vole activity.
Keep grass and vegetation near gardens trimmed short.

Fall

This is the most critical time to plant repellent bulbs like daffodils and alliums.
Remove thick mulch from beds to eliminate winter hiding spots.
Till garden soil to expose and disrupt tunnels.
Install new barriers around young trees before snow falls.

Winter

Check under snow for girdling damage on trees and shrubs.
Plan your garden layout and plant orders for the coming spring.

FAQ

What smells do voles hate the most?

Voles hate strong, pungent smells. These include the scents of garlic, onion, castor oil, and certain plants like crown imperial. Using these smells in your garden is a key deterrent.

Will marigolds repel voles?

While marigolds are famous for repelling some insects and nematodes, they are not reliably effective against voles. Its better to focus on proven plants like daffodils and alliums.

How do I get rid of voles permanently?

Complete permanent removal is very difficult, as new voles can always move in. The goal is effective, ongoing management. A consistent strategy using repellent plants, habitat modification, and barriers offers the best long-term control.

Does mint keep voles away?

Mint’s strong scent can help deter voles, but be careful. Mint is extremely invasive and can quickly take over a garden. It’s safer to plant mint in pots and place them strategically, rather than in the ground.

What is the fastest way to get rid of voles?

For an immediate problem, trapping is the fastest direct method. However, for lasting results, you must combine it with the planting strategies and barriers mentioned here to prevent new voles from replacing the ones you remove.

Using plants that repel voles is a smart, eco-friendly part of garden pest management. It takes some planning and consistent effort, but the reward is a healthier garden that works with nature. Start by choosing a few repellent plants from this list and planting them this season. Over time, you’ll notice a difference in the damage and can enjoy your garden’s bounty more fully.