They like to hide in tall grass. Consequently, keep your grass short. Mother Nature s methods of controlling rodents are birds, owls, and bats. Turn your garden into a bird sanctuary, including many of their favorite plants. Many garden centers now sell bat houses, which like birdhouses provide a safe haven for the little critters.
Most rodents also prefer clay soil rather than sandy soil.
However, don t mix sand into your clay soil as this will create concrete. A better method is to amend your clay soil with lots of organic matter, gradually turning it into rich loam. Realistically though, I doubt this will make a serious impact on your rodent problem. Don t expect to eradicate every rodent from your garden. Remember, the outdoors is the home of animals and nature, not a sanitized flower shop.