I was told that rats do not like mint. If that goes for mice and voles too then it might be a good idea to plant it at the base of fig trees. Even though it's invasive it would help to stop rodents from girdling the bark during the winter months. Does anyone know if that is true. If it is, then it'd help save a lot of trees from being damaged. I've had several trees damaged from voles and would like to find something that would stop them.

Tony,

It seems to me that the voles around here are all grass eaters. I don't think they would go after bark, but rabbits do. Could your problem be rabbits?

May be, but figs are gopher magnets.

I know this lady that used to bred RATS for sale. She supplies just over 10,000 of these rats(big ones) to a wholesaler and she said rats eat almost every vege except that they hate Garlic. Business was very good for her until the authorities discovered her set-up and closed it down. The rats were meant for "pet food".

Jon,

For better or worse, we don't have gophers in these parts, but I can imagine what they can do to soft wood. Garlic repels a lot of things. I plant it around my roses to keep grubs away, then I hang it around my neck to keep relatives away.

I used to work with a guy that would shell cloves of garlic like peanuts and eat it raw. This guy was something else, breath to make your eyes water and farts to peel wallpaper.

Besides repelling a variety of pests, it is suppose to be a "wonder food" full of anti-oxidants. If it wards off rodents, and you get to garnish your steak with it, why not grow it with your figs!?  Anyone know any fig-garlic recipes?

How does Fig and Garlic stuffed, Bacon wrapped Smoked Pork Loin sound? 

Sounds delicioso. Send it!

 Garlic and Fig stuffed, Bacon wrapped Pork Loin

Mint is used as a rodent deterrent . . here's a link that extolls several plant deterrents:
http://www.ehow.com/list_7278896_rodent-repellent-plants.html

Remember . . . mint is fairly invasive . . . and sprreads through rooting tendrills over and under barriers . . but is relatively easy to clean up

Thank you Cody!

Thanks all for the info. Looks like I'll be planting garlic, mint and lavender around the Fig trees. By planting all 3 that should definitely put up a shield to keep all those rodents out.

Yeah well, . . don't forget to be vigilant in regards to Rats and Squirrels . .
They are prolific in the urban setting

Best of Luck

Veering a little off-topic here, but found this article that says marigolds deter root nematodes. I knew they helped with white fly, but here's another reason to grow them with figs: http://www.ehow.com/info_8559947_marigolds-grub-repellent.html