Despite the Royal Horticultural Society deciding in March 2022 that slugs should no longer be considered pests, many gardeners are still determined to protect their beloved plants from them
Slugs and snails are among the most troublesome garden pests, causing havoc all year round by feasting on plants.
Despite the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) deciding in March 2022 that slugs should no longer be considered pests, many gardeners are still determined to protect their beloved plants from these hungry creatures. Slugs and snails thrive in damp, shaded areas, often hiding beneath leaves and in moist corners of the garden. They are notorious for eating nearly anything they encounter, particularly in vegetable gardens where they can cause significant damage by consuming both leaves and produce.
Infestations can often go unnoticed until the damage is done, with chewed leaves and the telltale slimy trails being the clearest signs of their presence. To keep slugs and snails at bay, many gardeners resort to homemade remedies, one of which has been praised for delivering “instant” results. A gardener recently shared an effective solution on Facebook, claiming that all you need to deter these pests is garlic and water.
Lara Smith wrote: “Something very exciting happened tonight. So I was spraying my hostas after it had gone dark and saw a snail and slug on their way. I sprayed the garlic solution in front of them and they instantly turned away. I thought I would try a bit more to see what happened. So I did it again in front of it and a bigger area, and they turned away again and avoided the whole area covered with garlic spray.”
Slugs and snails are highly sensitive to strong odours, which is why they dislike garlic. Garlic is an excellent natural repellent, keeping plants safe from damage. The allium family, which includes garlic, is well known for driving away a variety of insects and pests, including slugs and snails. Gardeners can use fresh garlic or alternative forms to keep these creatures out of their garden.
Lara went on to explain how she made the garlic spray: ““To make the homemade garlic spray, I put one chopped garlic glove into 500ml warm water, and started to use it after I left it overnight. I left it outdoors where there was no direct sunshine with the garlic in and put it in a spray bottle when I needed it. Don’t know how long you could keep it as I am new to it. But I made mine two weeks ago.”
The solution can last for several months when stored in the fridge, so it’s a good idea to make a few bottles in advance. In the comments section, another gardener, Hazel Taylor, confirmed the spray’s longevity: “I’ve kept garlic spray from one year to the next and it still works – if kept somewhere cool.” By using this simple homemade spray, gardeners can protect their plants from slugs and snails without resorting to expensive or harmful chemicals.
