Are you looking for ways to protect your garden from pesky slugs and snails? If so, you’ve come to the right place!
In this article, we’ll discuss easy tips to keep slugs and snails away from your garden so it can be as flourishing as you want it to be. So let’s get started!
Identifying slugs and snails
Slugs and snails are slimy, soft-bodied mollusks that can wreak havoc on your garden.
They feed on a variety of living plants, causing damage to flowers, vegetables, fruits, and other vegetation.
To keep your garden flourishing, it is important to identify these pests.
Slugs are usually grayish-brown in color and have a slimy trail they leave behind them. Snails have a distinctive spiral shell, which they carry around with them wherever they go.
By familiarizing yourself with the physical characteristics of these creatures, you’ll be better equipped to spot them and take action to keep them away from your garden.
Natural repellents
When it comes to keeping slugs and snails away from your garden, there are many natural repellents that you can use.
These include copper, vinegar, egg shells and coffee grounds.
Copper is a very popular repellent as it creates an electric current around the garden which is not liked by slugs and snails.
Similarly, vinegar is also a good option as they cannot tolerate its acidic smell.
Eggshells are also effective when spread around the garden as they have sharp edges that can easily scare off the pests.
Finally, coffee grounds are great for repelling both slugs and snails.
All of these natural remedies are great for keeping your garden healthy and flourishing!
Physical barriers
There are several physical barriers that can be used to prevent the entry of slugs and snails in your garden.
Firstly, you can create a barrier of copper around your plants, as these creatures are sensitive to copper and will avoid contact with it.
Secondly, you can keep them away from seedlings by using mulch, which creates an environment that is not hospitable for them.
Thirdly, you can use wood ash sprinkled around the edges of your garden as slugs don’t like its texture.
Fourthly, you can create traps by using beer, as slugs and snails are attracted to its smell.
Lastly, you can also use diatomaceous earth, which is made up of fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms and is harmless to plants and animals.
Beneficial predators
Slugs and snails can be a nuisance in your garden, but the presence of beneficial predators can help keep them at bay.
Insects such as ground beetles, centipedes, and spiders prey on slugs and snails. You can attract these predators to your garden by planting drought-tolerant plants and providing natural hiding spots.
Additionally, leaving organic debris such as fallen leaves, twigs and branches may also create microclimates favourable to these predators.
A variety of birds including crows, ducks, and chickens are also known to feed on slugs and snails.
Therefore, try to maintain a bird-friendly environment in your garden and provide bird feeders or nesting boxes for them.
Finally, you can introduce predaceous nematodes into the soil which actively hunt down slugs and snails. All these measures will help keep your garden safe from slugs and snails without the need for chemical pesticides.
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