Gardeners are being warned that watering plants in the evening could be luring slugs into gardens – but there is a simple way to keep the pests at bay
Slugs are more active in summer, particularly at night, because they prefer cool, damp conditions. This means watering your garden in the evening could be attracting these animals.
While they are not considered pests, they can ruin many crops, so, understandably, many want to keep them away. Fortunately, there is a simple way to protect the garden, and it costs just 40p. The solution involves cloves of garlic, which have been soaked in hot water and then placed in a spray bottle.
This creates an effective natural barrier that the pests will avoid, all whilst avoiding causing any harm to wildlife. All you’ll need is one garlic bulb from the supermarket, which is available for around 39p each, reports the Express.
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Once you have your cloves, peel two to three cloves and place them in hot water, leaving them for 24 hours. After the day has passed, strain any garlic water into an empty spray bottle.
Make sure to top the bottle up with water to dilute it down. Spray or water your plants once a week or after rain with this homemade deterrent.
According to Gardeners World, this “effective” spray will only work when sprayed regularly. Other ways to deter slugs include planting vegetables in the garden, especially near plants which they are attracted to.
Onions and leeks are known for their pungent aroma, whilst fennel also tends to repel them. Planting herbs such as mint and rosemary near vegetables will deter slugs from approaching, thanks to their strong scent.
However, it’s marigolds that usually prove most effective when companion planting due to their strong, musky scent.