I had a real problem with slugs eating my plants, but a ‘genius’ 55p hack worked overnight – & it’s in your fridge
IF your garden is your pride and joy, then chances are you’re fed up of finding pesky snails and slugs eating away at your plants.
But if you’re eager to make that a problem of the past, then you may just want to listen up…because there’s a 55p trick that gardening gurus are praising for getting rid of them for good.
Sharlene Welch took to Facebook group Gardening On A Budget Official and penned: “I’m having a real problem with slugs/snails this year.
“I’ve tried coffee grounds and copper tape but neither of them have worked.
“Any advice welcome, thank you!”
Tin foil tray with a slice of cucumber in it. It gives off a smell they hate
Gardening guru
Luckily, Sharlene wasn’t short on suggestions, with other gardening fans quick to take to the comments section to share their top tips – with one particular answer in common…cucumber.
“Tin foil tray with a slice of cucumber in it. It gives off a smell they hate,” suggested one gardening whizz.
“It’s worth buying a pack of Bakewell tarts for. Leave it out all summer.”
A second commented: “Cucumber they will munch on it and fill up.”
And a third added: “Google cucumber slices on tin foil – worked for me!”
So, how exactly does the 55p vegetable work in deterring the garden pests?
According to one gardening whizz who goes by “green goddess,” the skins of cucumber contain curbitacinm.
She explains: “When that chemical comes into contact with aluminium it causes a reaction, creating a scent that’s undetectable to humans, but drives slugs and snails crazy causing them to flee the area.”
Another popular answer amongst the hundreds of responses was garlic.
“Build of garlic, 750 ml water, blend it up n leave overnight, strain next morning into jug and pour into spray bottle…..now the smell is fierce but boy they hate it,” one person wrote.
“Be no vampires within a mile either.”
A further urged: “Spray garlic water..crush garlic add boiling water.. leave overnight strain into bottle.”
Meanwhile, another explained: “I put a few cloves of crushed garlic in water and spray around the garden.”
Daniel Scholfield of The Expert Gate Company also recommended the 21p trick and said: “A homemade garlic spray can be an effective deterrent to slugs – rather than a pesticide that can kill them – but only if it’s used regularly.”
Comedian Tom Allen swears by using garlic as a slug deterrent.
In fact, he likes to make his own “garlic squash” which he waters his plants with every evening.
Why having slugs in your garden is a good thing
Yes, they chomp your precious plants, but having slugs in your garden should be celebrated.
Rebecca Miller, Associate Editor for Fabulous, and novice gardener, believes we should work in harmony with slugs and not try to get rid of them altogether.
“We’ve been conditioned as a society to believe we must have gardens with straight edges, short lawns with pretty stripes and perfect borders with flowers constantly blooming.
But unruly hedgerows, abundance of tall wildflowers buzzing with insects, and bugs and slugs galore in flowerbeds is totally natural – and necessary.
I understand that your plants might be very precious to you, but we need slugs and snails. They provide food for all sorts of mammals, birds, slow worms, earthworms, insects – and they are part of the natural balance.
By removing them, we upset the ecosystem and can do a lot of harm – thrushes in particular thrive on them!
It is said British Gardeners use some 650 billion slug pellets per year! Please find a natural alternative – the poison from slug pellets enters the food chain and can kill hedgehogs, who consider slugs and snails as a tasty treat.
If you’re truly desperate, consider using Diatomaceous Earth – it is a naturally occurring compound approved for organic use, that can be used for pest control.
And while you’re at it, challenge yourself to grow “sacrificial plants”.
Sacrificial planting, commonly known as trap cropping, is the deliberate act of growing plants to attract pests. Pick a slugs favourite vegetable or ornamental plant for them to nibble on, and they will leave your more precious plants alone.”