Slugs and snails can demolish garden plants in spring and even kill anything that has just been planted, but luckily it is fairly simple to get rid of them.
Gardeners may discover they are suddenly spotting more slugs now in spring as the rainy weather is ideal for these pests to thrive, and they are likely to hide in moist debris, rocks, weeds and mulch.
Emma London, a gardening expert and founder of The Pink Shed, has discovered one very effective method to keep slugs away from gardens for good is using natural food scraps rather than harsh chemicals.
She said: “I’ve tried so many different methods for stopping the slimy critters. Some work, some don’t and most of them are anything but environmentally friendly.
“I don’t like killing anything on my plot (least of all my plants!), so have been searching for a natural way of deterring slugs and snails that actually works.”
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How to keep slugs out of the garden naturally
To keep slugs away all you need to do is save some food scraps as dried-out egg shells scattered around the base of a plant can keep these critters away.
Emma said: “Egg shells are a great way of deterring slugs and snails from munching on your plants. The theory is (like most natural deterrents), that slugs and snails don’t like to slither over sharp surfaces.
“So to do this right, you have to completely dry out your eggshell and crush them up as small as possible.”
All you need to do is wash out eggshells and then leave them somewhere to completely dry out. Then crush them up into fine pieces, place them in a container and scatter them around a plant.
Eggshells are also beneficial for plants as they provide calcium in the soil, which is important for plant growth. It is especially beneficial for crops such as tomatoes and peppers plus any summer-flowering plants to help keep them healthy.
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This method can also help improve the soil structure and drainage of garden beds when mixed into the soil, and help which will also help make plants stronger.
However, the eggshell method will only work to keep slugs away if the eggshells have been washed and dried out completely.
Having yolk or moisture on the eggshells can actually have the opposite effect and encourage the interest of slugs rather than deter them.
Emma said: “If you leave any egg residue in the shell, it actually attracts slugs to them!
“Obviously, this would be the most counterproductive thing you could do! So make sure to wash the egg shells, completely dry them out and then crush them!”
