Gardener shares the ‘ultimate’ hack for getting rid of slugs without chemicals – using items you’ll already have a home
WITH this summer set to be a washout, we’ll likely see even more slugs and snails in our gardens this year.
One gardening whizz has shared his DIY method to stop these pests in their tracks – and it’s completely chemical-free too.
Even better, this hack uses items that are probably gathering dust in your garden shed.
If you aren’t following Gary Pilarchik on social media, you might want to check out his extremely helpful YouTube channel.
Better known as the Rusted Garden Homestead, this green-fingered influencer has been sharing his gardening tips and tricks for well over a decade.
More recently though, this content creator has gone viral for his easy-peasy way of removing slugs and snails from his garden.
Rather than letting these pests take over his vegetable patch, Gary will use two terracotta plant pots to trap them. (Yes, it really is as simple as it sounds.)
As the gardener explained in his now viral-video, you simply need to set this up in a damp, shady spot and these pests will ‘just show up’ before too long.
Once you’ve found the perfect place, all you need to do is place a small terracotta pot face down on level ground – leaving the small hole at the bottom facing upwards.
The gardening guru will then add a larger terracotta pot over the top, again with the hole at the bottom facing up so slugs and snails can crawl in.
Leave this overnight and you should find both of the terracotta pots covered in the unwanted pests, just like Gary did.
Showing how effective this was in a now-viral video, he told fans: “The whole key to this is that they are crawling in…they are looking for a cool damp place.”
You can even increase how effective this DIY trap is, by adding a small amount of damp soil to the internal pot – as this helps to maintain a cool, damp environment for the slugs.
Once you’ve trapped your slugs, you can then decide whether you want to ‘keep, relocate or remove’ them from your garden.
Needless to say, the DIY hack has been a huge hit with his followers and over 6,000 people have watched the video so far.
In the comments, fans gushed about the video with one writing: “So helpful! I’ve been waiting for a video like this!”
Another added: “Thank you very much for sharing this information and for the closeups of these pests.”
If you are tempted to try this, you should be able to try this method using plant pots you have at home.
However, you can also pick up extra terracotta pots from most gardening centres and larger discount stores for only a few pounds.
B&M even has small terracotta plant pots for as little as £1.99, just in time for summer.
Well, you might not be able to guarantee warmer weather, but you’ll definitely be able to stop pests with this hack.
Keep pests out all summer
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 mossies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.