The mild, damp climate makes domestic gardens an ideal breeding ground for slugs, which can emerge in vast numbers to chew their way through leafy greens and tender seedlings. While only a few of the UK’s estimated 44 slug species actually prey on live plants, those that do—such as the Netted Field Slug and the Common Garden Slug—are a menace, leaving tell-tale ragged holes and silvery trails across your hard work.
However, while slugs may seem like the ultimate garden foe, experts agree that harsh chemical controls are not the answer. As Hayley Jones, principal entomologist at the Royal Horticultural Society, advises, “Slugs are here to stay so learning to think like one is how you can best limit their pesky behaviour on your plot”. Rather than trying to eradicate them completely, which is impossible and detrimental to garden biodiversity, the focus should be on creating natural barriers and discouraging them from your most vulnerable plants.
These slimy pests are primarily nocturnal, so you won’t see them roaming around your property during the day, but waking up to a glistening trail across your floors is a clear indication they’re present.
Pest control expert Edris Latifi, owner of Eco Care Pest Management, says the answer could be in your kitchen cupboard.
How to get rid of slugs
Coffee
Ground coffee can work wonders in protecting plants that slugs may have taken a fancy to. It has proven effective when sprinkled around your plants, and Edris recommends simply leaving the coffee grounds to do their job.
It should be noted that “the higher the caffeine concentration the more effective it will be”, said Edris.
Petroleum jelly
Thanks to petroleum jelly’s slippery consistency, it can serve as an excellent method for preventing slugs from gaining a grip on surfaces and reaching your plants, blooms, or other areas of your property.
Spread the balm around the edges of your flower and plant containers, as well as on your plant stems, to deter slugs from clinging on and munching through your greenery.
Or, for indoor trouble spots, coat the areas surrounding drains and air vents with vaseline to catch slugs.
Eggshells
Another household waste product, eggshells, can be utilised in your garden to ward off slugs. According to Edris, these are “a great option as slugs don’t like moving across jagged objects.”
This solution demands minimal work. Simply crush an empty eggshell into tiny fragments and scatter them around blooms and plants to protect them from slug destruction. The crushing part is crucial to prevent rats from being attracted to your garden.
This technique can also benefit your plants, as the calcium from the eggshell helps nourish the soil as it breaks down.
Nutshells
Much like eggshells, crushed nutshells function in the same manner to repel slugs. Use the same method by smashing up the nutshells into small bits and forming a defensive barrier around your plants.
Seaweed
This ingredient is unlikely to be in your kitchen cupboard, but it’s readily available in supermarkets. Whether you have powdered or fresh seaweed to hand, both are brilliant for eliminating slugs.
Simply position the seaweed around the plants and areas you wish to protect from slugs, and let the high salt content do its job.
