I don’t consider rodents in small numbers to be a problem. Squirrels in my yard rarely reach more than three and more often there is just one repetitive visitor in my area. However, when the population in a small area expands and the critters start destroying plants that will be providing food, then I have to draw the line. Discouraging doesn’t seem to work well. I have planted all kinds of chives and onions that rodents are supposed to hate, even including catnip, but it seems like they breeze right by it and continue wreaking havoc! My rat problem comes from a drainage area on the other side of a neighbor’s house. They take the rat super highway along the fence to eventually end up in my garden. Squirrels running away with the occasional tomato I tolerate, but rats nibbling peppers, beans, and squashes can’t be tolerated. My solution: I use a humane trap that kills instantly so that they don’t suffer (see the post below).