With the recent spate of rainy summer days, our gardens have provided the perfect conditions for slugs to feast, with seedlings nibbled as soon as they surface and dahlias swiftly demolished.
There are dozens of old wives’ tales about how best to remove slugs from our gardens - but many are cruel. For example, beer traps are unkind because slugs drown in them, salt makes them quickly dehydrate and die, and copper tape delivers an electric shock.
As a gardener with 20 years’ experience, I find that working with nature is the best way to reduce the damage they do to the garden. And, if I had to recommend one approach above all others, it would be this - and, thankfully, it doesn’t cost a thing.
Put aside your squeamishness and go around your garden removing slugs by hand. Slugs come to feed early in the day, so head into your garden in the morning and get to work. If you don’t want to touch them with your bare hands, wear a pair of gardening gloves.
Lettuces, cabbages, sweet peas and hostas are among the plants most susceptible to slug damage.
Search under the rims of pots, beneath stones and bricks, and in the base of plants. Place the slugs you find in a bucket and relocate them somewhere at least 100m from your garden as some species have homing instincts that will bring them back to their favourite patch.
The frequent rainy days Brits have dealt with over summer have put our gardens in the perfect condition for slugs to feast
Put them somewhere they will have plenty of vegetable matter to feed on but won’t bother other gardeners.
Getting rid of slugs can feel like a losing battle, especially as some of the ways that we used to combat them in the past have now been deemed cruel.
I confess that I used to put down slug pellets, but these have now been banned for sale and use in the UK (since March 2022) as it has been recognised that the active ingredient of metaldehyde poses an unacceptable risk to other wildlife such as birds and hedgehogs. So hand-picking really is best.
But, if all this makes you squeamish, here are ten more effective methods:
Try using ‘nematodes’
These are naturally occurring micro-organisms that target specific pests without posing a threat to other wildlife. They are also perfectly safe on homegrown produce.
One of the leading brands is Nemaslug 2.0, which contains a new species of nematode called Phasmarhabditis californica. It is easy to apply and will provide protection for six weeks, after which a new application is needed.
Following the instructions on the box, simply add the nematodes to your watering can and sprinkle over your vegetables, fruit and flowers.
Nematodes are naturally occurring micro-organisms that target specific pests without posing a threat to other wildlife, and are also perfectly safe on homegrown produce
Forage seaweed
As well as being a fantastic fertiliser for plants, seaweed is a natural slug repellent. If you are going to the beach this summer, bring some home with you and use it to mulch around the base of plants, making sure it doesn’t touch the stem. It will keep slugs at bay and improve growth into the bargain.
Set up plastic bottle guards
One of the most effective barriers is to place a plastic bottle with the top cut off around the base of a plant. This is particularly good for young seedlings, such as sunflowers, that need to go in the ground to give them a chance to establish but are at risk of being nibbled. It is also a good way to recycle single-use plastics.
The sharp edge should put most slugs off, although the most determined will still find a way. Remember to remove the guard once your plant gets bigger and more resistant so as not to impede its growth.
Garlic spray approach
Using a spray made from garlic steeped in water has been shown to deter slugs. There are several different ways to do this. Some swear by peeling and loosely crushing a garlic bulb, putting it in an old sock and leaving it in a jar of water overnight or for a few days.
Others boil the garlic bulb in a saucepan of water then mash it, let it cool and strain the liquid. Use a spray bottle to cover the leaves and stem of your plants.
Try cooking garlic and letting the cloves soak in water overnight before spraying the mixture on your plants
Wait until seedlings are bigger to plant out
Small, juicy seedlings are like manna for molluscs. By growing them in a greenhouse or cold frame until they are more mature – around 20cm for most young plants – you will give them a better start in life.
Be prepared to sacrifice a few plants
Scatter extra seedlings in the hope that, while some will get nibbled, enough will survive to produce a decent display or harvest. This does, however, run the risk of greater disappointment if the slugs demolish the lot.
Use brassica leaves
The leaves of many brassicas, such as cabbages and brussels sprouts, are highly attractive to slugs.
If you are growing these in your vegetable patch, tear off a few of the outer leaves that are not so appealing for cooking and place these around the edges of other plants. The hope is that slugs will eat these and leave your plants alone.
Put sand and gravel around plants
Whether they are in the ground or in containers, using a layer of sand or gravel around the base of plants can act as a slug deterrent, as the sharp surface is uncomfortable for them to slither over.
Enticing predators such as hedgehogs and frogs can protect your garden from pesky slugs
Attract predators
Frogs and newts love to feed on slugs. Installing a small pond or natural water feature in your garden or balcony will encourage them. Hedgehogs are another predator, so make sure to leave holes in fences for them to crawl through.
Bring birds into your garden by growing plants that produce fruit, seeds and berries, as well as foliage for shelter, and they will reward you by picking off slugs.
Choose slug-resistant plants
It might seem obvious, but if you’re sick and tired of watching the fruits of your labour being devoured overnight, then consider choosing plant varieties that are less susceptible to being munched.
Catmint, lavender, salvias, astrantia and roses are generally left alone. When it comes to vegetables, they are not fans of onions, garlic and shallots. You can try planting these around veg beds for extra protection.
They dislike the bitter tasting leaves of chard, chicory and spinach. Artichokes, asparagus, rhubarb and fennel are generally slug-resistant, too.
