With the weather making a turn for the worse, it’s not surprising to find a few slimy uninvited guests appearing in the garden.
Indeed, once slugs and snails set up shop, it can be tricky to oust them once and for all - which is why many experts have recommended a multi-pronged approach to deter the pests.
Talking to GB News, trap expert Ed Dolshun said: “Slugs are sneaky and persistent, especially when you’ve got tender flowers or new growth in the garden. One of the simplest organic methods is to create a physical barrier.”
But, although available in your larder, it might not immediately cross your mind to use kitchen scraps to combat a slug invasion.
With the weather making a turn for the worse, it’s not unsurprising that you might have a few slimy uninvited guests in the garden
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Outdoor expert Andy Wu, who has worked on garden projects, said: “Slugs can be a real headache for any gardener, but there are natural, organic tricks that work wonders without damaging your plants or environment.”
His “go-to” method is copper tape, trailed around flower beds. If the pests attempt to cross, they’ll receive a mild shock and turn around, as if it were a simple garden fence.
A favourite of his is the “diatomaceous earth”, which calls for a sprinkling of coffee grounds or egg shells around the affected area.
Both serve a dual purpose, as Andy said: “Once, we used crushed eggs around the rose garden. The sharp edge stopped the snail, and the calcium accelerated the plant.”
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But “consistency is key”, he warned, urging green thumbs to check their garden and apply their barrier after the deterrent is washed away by rain to keep flowers “rich and snail-free”.
Meanwhile, entomologist and researcher Hayley Jones grew 108 lettuces and used crushed eggshells, pine bark mulch, copper tape, sharp horticultural grit and wool pellets to fend off the garden pests over six weeks.
However, Hayley found the barriers to be “unreliable and ineffective”, adding that the “trialled remedies just won't cut it”.
Instead, it’s best to try out traps, like citrus skins from oranges, grapefruit or melon, side down. Equally, jars or containers filled partially with beer and dug into a hole to facilitate access.
The yeast in the beverage attracts the pests so it’s wise to check and empty the traps regularly
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The yeast in the beverage attracts the pests so it’s wise to check and empty the traps regularly, as the RHS recommends changing it every morning.
Biological control can also be effective with a microscopic nematode or eelworm watered into the ground.
However, the RHS urged them to exercise caution since the bacteria (which kills off the slugs) can affect all slugs - even the ones that help your garden to thrive.
Gardeners should avoid applying slug pellets to their garden since the deterrent has been shown to have a negative impact on local wildlife. It’s best to exercise caution and try out cultural and biological control methods first.
