To many, slugs may seem disgusting, but their existence is vital for the wellbeing of birds and mammals who rely on them as a food source. That’s why professionals suggest using this natural deterrent strategy to keep them at bay
A surprising food scrap can deter slugs from your garden without killing them, an expert has claimed.
Slugs can be nightmare to deal with- whether they’re squeezing through the cracks in your floorboards, or taking a bite out of your favourite plant. Though, professionals at Rentokil claim these pesky molluscs usually steer clear of a certain type of food – and you probably already have it at home.
Taking to their online blog, they revealed: “Crushed egg shells work as a great home remedy of slugs. This is because slugs don’t like moving across sharp objects, although it isn’t not impossible for them to do, they just prefer not to.”
Smashing up the egg shells from your morning fry-up will certainly do the trick for this, which can then be left around anything from garden plants, to vegetable patches to keep your greenery safe. Believe it or not, the calcium in these shells can benefit the soil too, working to moderate its acidity which is good news for plant growth.
“Broken nutshells work in the same way as egg shells when getting rid of slugs [too],” the professionals added. “Break up the nutshells into small pieces, and create a protective barrier around your plants. Any slugs that come near your vegetables will soon turn the other way.”
To many, slugs may seem disgusting or even annoying, but their existence is actually vital for the wellbeing of birds and mammals who rely on them as a food source. They are also known to be great decomposers, feeding on dead insects and fallen leaves, before recirculating their nutrients back into the soil.
That’s why deterrent strategies are arguably more beneficial than chemical repellents, as the latter usually causes molluscs to swell up and die.
You may also be surprised to know that highly caffeinated coffee beans, petroleum jelly and even copper can have a similar effect to egg shells when it comes to this. Bizarrely, the slimy mucus created by slugs will actually react with the copper when it comes into contact with it, sparking a tiny electric shock that will be sure to keep the squelchers at bay.
Plant professionals say it’s best to purchase this in tape form at a DIY shop, which can then be placed around plant pots to act as a barrier. “For copper tape to remain effective against slugs then it needs to be cleaned regularly with vinegar to avoid tarnishing,” they added.
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