Using plants that repel slugs and function as natural pesticides is the best way to naturally keep them away from specific plants in your garden. While many gardeners’ ultimate goal is to create a pest-free zone, sometimes we should just let wildlife take the lead and quit “interfering” with nature.
The term ‘pest’ is being used less and less, and there has really been a greater shift towards allowing all insects and animals into our gardens. The theory is that a robust, biodiverse ecosystem takes care of itself and reduces the need for artificial means of controlling a single species.
But if we haven’t achieved a condition of biodiverse harmony in our outdoor environments yet, what can we do to shield some of the plants in our gardens from slugs? Soft, luscious, meaty stems and foliage are especially tasty to slugs.
Natural methods for slug prevention
1. Garden Cloch
A garden cloche is the easiest and most convenient way to stop slugs from eating your seedlings without the use of pesticides. Simply place the cloche over the seedling, and your plant will be safe from slugs, frost, and other insects.
2. Crushed egg shells
Cover your edges with cracked eggshells. Slugs will be prevented from slipping by the sharp edges since they dislike the sensation.
3. Sand
To prevent slugs from getting to the plants that are attracting their hungry eyes, surround your plants with a rough surface such as gravel or sand.
4. Planting companion plants and deterring them
Try growing the vegetation that slugs dislike next to the items they like to keep them away from the entire region. Some plants genuinely repel slugs. This is known as companion planting (see our comprehensive guide).
Slug-hating plants include:
- The family Allium, which includes the Allium giganteum
- Mint with a strong scent
- Garlic, fennel, chives, foxgloves, geraniums
5. Manually
Removing slugs by hand is a less preferred but still efficient way to get rid of them. How many slugs you can gather on a wet evening will astound you.
6. Ponds
Benefit plants because pond predators, such as frogs and newts, help control the slug population.
7. Keep some ducks around
Ducks eat slugs, especially Indian Runners and Khaki Campbells.
8. Newspaper
If you don’t want to get your hands slimy, consider placing a wet newspaper down on a hot day. Slugs will crawl beneath it in search of cover. Gather the paper and the slugs at the end of the day.
9. Algae or seaweed
Gather seaweed the next time you’re at the beach. The green stuff works as a natural slug deterrent in addition to being excellent for your soil. Make sure the mulch doesn’t come into contact with the stems of your plants as you mulch the outside of your plant bed.
Some other more hazardous slug plant deterrents
1. Beer
Beer seems to attract slugs. Some choose to put a half-buried beer container in their flower gardens. The slugs will eventually creep into the container because they are unable to resist. In the end, they’ll drown.
2. Copper tapes
Plants receive an electric shock when copper tape is wrapped around them because the metal reacts with the slime from slugs.
3. Salt
Slugs have an adverse reaction to salt. In a few minutes, the salt will kill them by dehydrating them.
