Slugs. Slimy, shell-less molluscs that make their way into your garden to munch through your beds and borders.
While some might argue that this gastropod is a gardener's friend – an important food source for birds and beetles and reliable recyclers of dead leaves and dung – it's understandable to want to keep them away from lovingly tended-to plants and petals.
While pellets can pose a significant risk to wildlife, pets and environmental health, there are other eco-friendly solutions to consider for banishing slugs...
A small sprinkling of porridge oats
As well as bringing a hit of unsaturated fats and fibre, oats can also help deter slugs in your garden.
Simply sprinkle a small amount of dry, rolled oats (typically found in supermarkets for around 85p) in a shady corner of your plot to lure slugs – who are attracted to the starchy scent – away from your flowers, fruits and vegetables.
Use sparingly: too many oats will create a claggy clump that might attract rodents and be sure to re-distribute after the rain as oats lose their effectiveness when wet.
Try a trap
Place a scooped out half orange, grapefruit or melon skin cut-side down on the soil in reliably moist, shady areas that slugs prefer. Position on vegetable or flower beds, or at the base of vulnerable plants, to attract slugs. Leave rinds overnight and ideally, check each morning. You might be surprised by the number of slippery customers you find when you check.
Pick plants less likely to become a slug's supper
There are a host of herbaceous plants – from foxgloves to fennel; scabious to snapdragons – that are much less likely to be snacked on by slugs. Early potatoes are usually uneffected, with less susceptible varieties including ‘Stemster’, ‘Sante’ and ‘Pentland Ivory’.
Natural pest repellent
