Changing a simple gardening routine plus this £1.20 TEMU buy should rid your garden of slugs
SLIMY, determined and very unforgiving . . . slugs are a gardener’s greatest foe.
There are 44 species in the UK, with roughly 50 to 100 hiding per square metre of soil in your outside space.
They spend the winter deep underground, but with the weather getting warmer and wetter, we are facing peak numbers.
Each slug has thousands of teeth in the form of a “radula”, which is a type of tongue that acts like a backwards cheesegrater to scrape away at the plants.
And it is their secret weapon, along with a tenacity to mercilessly raze your favourite plants and vegetables.
So what can we do? Dr Hayley Jones, from the RHS, says: “Stop seeing them as just an enemy and rather as part of the ecosystem.”
READ MORE ON GARDENING
Here are Hayley’s top tips from her new book, Slugs: Friend or Foe?
WATERING: Do this in the morning instead of the evening. We are often told that later on is the best time to replenish your plants as there is less chance of it evaporating in the sun.
But slugs love wet soil and they come out at night. So, if you are watering in the dark, all you are doing is providing a nice watery film for slugs to move around happily above ground.
MULCH: Providing a layer of mulch around your plants acts as protection and keeps the soil dryer on the surface.
This reduces slugs because they will be less likely to come to the surface through this drier level. In my studies, mulching reduced the slugs by 20 per cent.
PLANT CHOICE: Slugs love fleshy, softer plants so think carefully about how sluggy your garden is and what you really want from it.
There is no point in trying to grow banks of hostas if you’ve got hundreds of slugs, you are just providing dinner.
NIGHT HUNTS: If you go out at night with a head torch, you will find the most slugs out and about. But where to put them once you have picked them off your plants?
Slugs love eating decomposing, rotting material, so if you have a good compost heap or a wilder part to your garden, leave them there.
COPPER: A lot of my studies showed it works as a deterrent in lab conditions as it is uncomfortable for slugs to cross. But it really depends on what you are using and how.
A top tip for copper tape is that after a few days outside, it needs to be showing a green tinge to show it is oxidizing.
Temu's copper tape is just £1.20.
If it is still shiny, it means there is a layer of plastic protection, so it won’t work. Plus, if the tape is too narrow, slugs will find a way to get over it.
And although copper collars are good, slugs can climb under them. So think carefully about how you are using it.
LEAVE THE LEAVES: Slugs love to eat decomposing matter. Retaining your leaf litter and some dead material instead of raking it all up obsessively gives them an alternative to munch on instead of your plants.
Also, if you have lots of clear soil, they will roam about all over the place looking for food.
SEEDLINGS: It is a simple point but protect your seedlings. They are like starters for the slug, which does not think anything of eating them down to the ground.
Seeds are so vulnerable. If you are going to grow from them, you need to have all your slug strategies in place before they sprout up.
Try to choose slug-resistant plants first, as that will help, and start them off indoors or on a table.
Earlier sowing indoors will also mean the plants are bigger and stronger by the time slug seasons starts – so less likely to get utterly decimated.
MESH YOUR POT BOTTOMS: Slugs will try and try to overcome any kind of resistance if they think there is food available. They will even crawl up the drainage holes of your pots.
Read More on The Sun
So if you are setting up a new pot to plant in, get some very fine mesh in the bottom to stop them coming through.
- RHS: Slugs Friend or Foe? Know Your Slugs And Learn To Live With Them, published by DK Books, price £12.99, is out on Thursday. For more Gardening advice and news, see today’s Sun Gardening on Page 55.
Gardening mistakes that could get you fined
Gardening experts over at Toolstation have revealed the garden laws you need to be aware of not breaking.
While some of these laws could land you with a fine of up to £20,000 in extreme cases, a friendly chat with your neighbours can usually resolve any issues.
Tree removal and pruning: If you have a tree in your garden you want to get rid of you better think twice and do your research.
The gardening experts reveal: “If one neighbour wishes to remove or heavily prune a tree that the other neighbour values, disputes can arise over the impact on the view, shade, or privacy. "
While it might cause a row, if it is in your property boundary it is ultimately your choice, unless it has a Tree Protection Order on it.
“But, some trees may be protected by a Tree Protection Order which makes it an offence to uproot, top or destroy them, the experts warn.
The maximum fine for breaking this law is £20,000, so make sure you double check if it does have a TPO.
You can find out by contacting your local council for a map that shows this information. Alternatively, you can ask to speak with your local tree officer.
Property boundaries and fences: One of the main causes of neighbours falling out is through arguing over property boundaries and fencing.
To avoid this situation, the gardening pros recommend checking the deeds of your property to determine the correct boundaries
“Most of the time, it’s easy to determine who owns the fence as the fence posts will usually be on the owners side," they add.
“Additionally, the height of fences or hedges can cause disputes between neighbours if one party feels the height has exceeded the two metre guidance.
"Hedges and fences should be no more than two metres high, and you could be asked by the council to take them down if a neighbour complains about the height.
"Luckily, standard fence sizes are less than two metres tall so you shouldn’t have a problem.”
Garden structures and additions: A pergola is the perfect addition to a garden if you want somewhere to relax in the shade.
But if it obstructs your neighbour's view or violates local building regulations it could cause a dispute, as can sheds and other garden structures.
“If you’re not sure, have a chat with your neighbours to let them know what you’re planning and, if there’s an issue, get in touch with your local council who can give you more guidance," advise the gardening experts.
Overhanging branches and plants: “When branches, vines, or roots from one neighbour's tree or plant extend into the neighbouring property, it can lead to disagreements over potential damage to structures, blocked views, or the burden of maintenance," reveal the pros.
However, it's important to note you can only trim overhanging branches up to the boundary of your property otherwise, it could be seen as trespassing.
You can climb into the tree to carry out the work if needed, but only on your property and make sure to stay on your side of the fence if you don't have permission to enter your neighbours garden.