UK households have been encouraged to put garlic in their gardens. You may not realise it, but it works to do a pretty important job outdoors in November and beyond
Though we might be spending less time outdoors as the winter months draw in, there are several jobs you’ll want to tackle outside before shutting the doors for good, and one of them involves placing garlic in your garden. You might not know it, but the humble bulb has a rather nifty purpose, as it could truly work miracles around your property.
What you may not realise is that it’s wise to pop some in your garden, and there’s a straightforward reason why. As the chillier months approach, it could help shield your plants, though it’s not as straightforward as simply scattering some across the grass.
It’s not the first somewhat peculiar item Brits have been advised to place in their gardens recently either. Previously, people were also urged to position cardboard toilet rolls outside as well.
Ish, recognised as gardening.with.ish on TikTok, shares loads of useful gardening advice. He recently revealed why garlic is so vital to work with in November.
According to him, slugs can prove a real nightmare during damp weather. However, by utilising garlic, you could help ward them off and safeguard your plants.
Ish explained: “Today in the garden, I’m going to show you how to rid those slugs off your plants with a spray bottle and some garlic. That’s right, today I’m making a garlic spray, and this is my last minute defence against slugs because used coffee grounds and egg shells are a fantastic way to keep them off the ground and away from your plants.
“But, what about some of those leaves that are close to the ground that they can reach up to? Well, garlic spray has a very interesting ingredient that makes the plant taste absolutely disgusting and, as a result, not only will they stay away from [them], but they won’t eat them either.”
To whip up your own spray, he explained you need to take around 200ml of water and add three or four crushed cloves of garlic. Ish advised leaving the mixture to soak for about a day or two.
Next, top it up with more water (around a litre), and voila, your spray is ready. Just remember to strain it before using it on your plants.
Decant it into a spray bottle and lightly mist it over your plants. Ish recommended doing this every week or so, focusing particularly on plants that are vulnerable to slugs.
Why does garlic spray put off slugs?
You might be surprised to learn that garlic spray can effectively deter slugs. The repellent effect comes from allicin, a sulphur compound that forms when garlic is crushed or boiled.
The potent smell and taste of this compound is loathed by slugs and snails, so they’ll steer clear of sprayed plants. It’s a straightforward way to keep your plants safe when the weather turns wet, and slugs become more prevalent.
They tend to be more active when the weather is damp, as they seek food and lay eggs. While rain itself is beneficial, slugs tend to emerge after rain rather than during heavy downpours, as this can be hazardous for them.
To maximise the effectiveness of the spray, it’s recommended to reapply it after rainfall. Ish also emphasised the importance of diluting the solution to prevent any potential harm to the plants.
This is why he suggests topping up the solution to approximately a litre once it has settled. Experts advise that the optimal time to apply it is in the evening.