Slugs and snails are active for most of the year but are a particular problem in spring, when there’s plenty of young growth for them to eat. They are mostly active after dark, especially when it’s warm and damp. In hot, dry weather, they bury themselves in the soil or hide in cool, dark places to avoid dehydrating.
Gardening expert Jessy Edgar from Sprouts of Bristol, however, has shared a clever homemade remedy to keep these pests at bay: a garlic spray. She explained: “We wanted to share our recipe for garlic spray that slugs and snails simply hate. Garlic contains Allicin, a compound that repels slugs and snails. By using this garlic spray on our plants, we should therefore protect the young shoots and tasty plants.”
Jessy noted that slugs and snails will “vanish like magic” as this spray turns the plants into “something the slugs and snails can’t stand”.
Allicin, the sulfur-rich compound found in garlic, is highly disagreeable to slugs, making it tough for them to traverse or linger nearby.
Garlic not only discomforts slugs but also disrupts their slime production, which is crucial for their mobility around the garden.
Jessy advised: “The one disclaimer is that the garlic spray will not work unless you apply it regularly. Think like clockwork: apply once a week, and again after heavy rains. We would recommend applying the wash in the evenings.”
There’s no need to peel or chop the garlic. Simply place two garlic bulbs in a saucepan filled with two litres of water. Boil the garlic for approximately 15 minutes, or until it is thoroughly soft, then mash it with a potato masher to extract all the juices from the vegetable.
Strain out the skin and other remnants until you’re left with a cloudy liquid, then allow the solution to cool before transferring it into an empty spray bottle.
When you’re ready to use the solution in your garden, ensure to dilute it with about two tablespoons to five litres of water in a watering can.
Your easy and natural slug-repellent recipe is now prepared for application, allowing you to enjoy the remainder of autumn without concern over damaged plants or ruined crops.
Jessy advised: “Spray or water over your plants once a week, February to October. Make sure to saturate the leaves and soil beneath. More frequent applications will be needed in wet weather. We would recommend applying an extra round of garlic spray after heavy rain.”