Gardener and founder of Sweet Life and Lemons, Nuria Corbi, has shared the most effective and sustainable ways to keep slugs out of your garden without using toxic poisons
Slugs don’t just wreck your precious plants – they’re also magnets for nasty fungal infections that can devastate your entire garden – but there’s a brilliant trick to send them away without reaching for toxic chemicals. When these slimy invaders start taking over your outdoor space, you need to act fast because they breed like rabbits during summer months, with each one capable of dropping up to 100 eggs in a single go.
Whatever you do, steer clear of brutal chemical warfare against slugs – not only will it poison your soil, but it’ll also wipe out the good guys like bumblebees, ladybirds and butterflies, wreaking havoc on your local ecosystem.
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Thankfully, Nuria Corbi, a gardening guru and brains behind Sweet Life and Lemons, has revealed there are loads of eco-friendly and incredibly effective natural remedies to banish slugs for good. She explained: “I’m not a fan of using pesticides or any kind of toxic poison in the garden unless it is really necessary. Most of the time there are harmless alternatives that can do the trick.”
How to banish slugs from your garden
Beer trap
Nuria revealed: “I have tried this and it was a great success. You fill small traps with beer and sink them into the soil so that the edges are flush with the ground. The snails and slugs are attracted by the beer and fall into the trap, literally.”
Slugs can’t resist the irresistible whiff of yeast in beer – especially the darker brews – and will slither straight into your boozy booby trap, only to find themselves well and truly stuck. The beer trap is a firm favourite among green-fingered enthusiasts for its effectiveness, affordability, and simplicity.
Yet, the one drawback of this method is the need for frequent maintenance to clear out the unfortunate slugs, which might not be everyone’s cup of tea if you’re a bit squeamish, reports the Express.
Nematodes
Nuria commented: “This is one of my preferred methods of slug and snail control. Nematodes are tiny organisms that basically cause the death of slugs by bacterial poisoning and are completely harmless to pets or children.”
Nematodes are hailed as one of the top natural solutions for keeping slugs at bay in gardens, with their ability to linger in the soil and continuously fend off pests. The main issue with nematodes, however, is the cost, which can add up if you’re treating a large garden.
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Eggshells
The jagged edges of eggshells pose a prickly obstacle for slugs and serve as an effective plant guard. Nuria shared: “This is so far the best method that has worked for me, together with the nematodes. Every time I make an omelette or use eggs, I keep the shells to dry on a container that I keep especially for this purpose.”
Simply rinse the eggshells free of yolk and let them dry out in a container until ready for use. Only once the eggs are bone dry, blitz them in a food processor or pop them in a sandwich bag and give them a good bash with a rolling pin.
Scatter the pulverised eggshells in a ring around your plants, and you’ll not only deter slugs but also provide a calcium kick to keep your garden thriving and free from pests.