The rainy UK climate is the perfect atmosphere for slugs, meaning that gardeners up and down the country may find that these pests have eaten their plants and ruined their beautiful flowers.
And while these animals play an important role in the ecosystem, it is nevertheless quite disappointing to discover they’ve destroyed your veg patch.
There are numerous methods gardeners have been known to use to attempt to deter slugs – from eggshells and coffee grounds to slug traps and slug pellets.
But one method advises gardeners to change their views on slugs, and instead of attempting to drive them out of the garden actually creating a habitat for them away from your plants.
Gardener’s World has suggested creating a slug zone as a way of controlling the population of these animals in your garden.
The experts advised: “You can deliberately attract slugs to a dark, shady corner using something they’re attracted to – old veg leaves, dried cat food, bread rolls, oats or bran. As they congregate for a feed at night, swoop in and collect them.”
You can then take the slugs and place them outside of your garden – or let them remain in the slug zone and use other deterrents around the plants you want to protect.
On the other end of the spectrum, the pros have also suggested making one area a completely ‘slug free zone’, writing: “It’s impossible to eliminate slugs from your whole garden, but you could create a small zone that you aim to keep slug free.
“Young seedlings and plants are by far the most vulnerable to slug attack, so prioritise the area where they grow, such as the area in and around a cold frame or a raised bed.
“Place fabric or mesh at the base of your pots before filling them with compost, so that slugs can’t gain entry from underneath them.
“Delay planting out seedlings until they have reached a decent size – they are more likely to withstand slug damage. Don’t overfeed young plants in spring, as this can create lush, leafy growth that slugs love.”
You can then use different methods to increase the likelihood that this area will remain slug free.
