The scourge of slugs on our meticulously maintained gardens is a matter not to be taken lightly. These slimy critters, along with snails, wreak havoc in our outdoor spaces, munching away on flowers, fruits, and more.
The recent spell of hot weather followed by expected downpours may boost our greenery, but it also turns our gardens into an attractive prospect for these pests.
However, dealing with them isn’t as straightforward as simply wiping them out. Slugs play a crucial role in the UK’s ecosystem, providing essential nourishment for birds.
This is especially significant considering the alarming statistic that Britain’s bird numbers have plummeted by up to 50 per cent in the past five decades. Therefore, we must seek out kinder methods of pest control.
A surprising solution to this persistent issue might just be found within your home, as suggested by the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS). The unusual answer to our gardening woes could be sitting in your fruit bowl right now.
The RHS actually recommends using an orange as a clever tactic to combat these garden invaders. They suggest setting traps “such as scooped half orange, grapefruit or melon skins” close to plants at risk, as reported by the Huffington Post.
While the RHS acknowledges that slugs and snails “cannot and should not be eradicated”, they endorse the use of these citrus traps to capture the creatures and protect our gardens. Besides being vital food for birds, these molluscs are also important decomposers, with only a few species actually feeding on living plants.
However, when these pests do decide to ravage your lawn, they typically prey on young, tender seedlings, often inflicting significant damage. Therefore, placing citrus fruits like oranges near the most susceptible plants can help keep them healthy.
Attracted by the scent, slugs will become trapped in the bowl-like shape of the fruit (the larger it is, the more likely they are to stay put). Gardeners should inspect the fruit daily, ideally first thing in the morning, and then move it far from your most fragile plants.
Alternatively, you could swap the fruit halves with jars half-filled with beer, although this method will directly kill the slugs and snails. Just like the orange half, only use this in areas with delicate growth that could be severely damaged by slugs.
Employing cloches can be beneficial, as can luring natural predators of slugs, such as hedgehogs and slow worms, to your garden. However, gardeners should steer clear of slug pellets as they can seriously harm the valuable biodiversity in your garden.