Gardening expert reveals how to banish slugs & snails from your garden – using £1 hack
A GARDEN expert has revealed a £1 hack to banish slugs and snails from your garden.
With temperatures soaring to unseasonable highs this week and a bank holiday on the horizon, many of us are likely planning on heading out into the garden to get some jobs done.
However, warm days and humid nights are the perfect conditions for slugs to emerge and wreak havoc on your prize vegetables.
The unwelcome visitors love nibbling on tasty leaves and seedlings, and if you’re not careful, could leave you with nothing come harvest season.
“The biggest concern is the emergence of young slugs,” Tom Clamp, head of technical at Doff Portland – a leading manufacturer of premium garden care products said.
“They’re particularly hungry and are indiscriminate feeders, meaning they can quickly decimate tender crops like vegetable seedlings, strawberries and bedding plants while potatoes are also vulnerable.”
The critters often feed at night, and can consume a whopping 40 times their body weight, often leaving a nasty surprise for gardeners in the morning.With this in mind, the garden care expert has shared some simple tricks to keep pesky slugs at bay.
With this in mind, Doug O’Connor, a garden expert, from DeerFencing.com has revealed a common garden plant which will deter the critters from your garden.
Daffodils
Daffodils are one of the key symbols of spring, and many avid gardeners love planting them in pots and flower beds to brighten up their gardens.
However, not only are they beautiful, their alkaloid content also deters certain pests like slugs.
What’s more, they are poisonous to rats, meaning that the pesky creatures will stay well away.
“They’re low-effort and naturalise easily, meaning they’ll come back year after year with minimal care,” Doug explained.
“Plus, they help protect more vulnerable plants nearby.”
Daffodils are super cheap, and you can pick them up from your local garden centre for as little as £1 per bulb.
Marigolds
Another stunning plant, the marigold has a distinctive scent which repels pests such as aphid and whiteflies.
The expert said: “Marigolds contain a compound called pyrethrum — a natural insecticide.
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Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
“They’re especially effective when planted alongside vegetables like tomatoes or courgettes.”
Marigolds can also be picked up from your local supermarket for a few pounds.
Chrysanthemums
Chrysanthemums are one of the most effective insect-repelling plants due to their high pyrethrin content.
Pyrethrin is a a naturally occurring mixture of chemicals found in that kills ticks and insects such as fleas and mosquitos by attacking their nervous systems.
Doug said: “Chrysanthemums repel everything from ants and lice to ticks and cockroaches.
“Plus, they add bold colour to autumn gardens when most plants begin to fade.”
The expert said that it is best to plant these flowers near windows and doorways, to prevent bugs from venturing indoors.