Slugs are more common in autumn as they thrive in damp weather and when there is lots of foliage on the ground, but there is a simple way to keep them away for good. 

It is recommended to look under plant pots and decaying leaves at this time of year as slug-breeding season has just passed and they will use dark moist areas as a hiding spot. 

One of the most common ways to deal with slugs is to use chemical pellets, but it is highly recommended you do not do this as they can harm pets and animals that naturally control the slug population such as birds or hedgehogs.

Instead, Jane, a gardener and founder of Snap Dragon Life, has shared how she accidentally discovered a way to naturally deter slugs by simply planting one beautiful flower around her garden.

Jane said: “I planted out my rows of carefully nurtured seedlings – cornflowers, marigolds, poppies, cosmos, nigella, snapdragons. Within two days the slugs had eaten everything but the snapdragons. Slugs don’t like snapdragons.” 

How do snapdragons keep slugs away? 

It may seem strange, but snapdragons are one of the most effective ways to keep slugs out of gardens as they naturally contain chemicals that are toxic to slugs but are not harmful to humans.

Snapdragons also contain less moisture than other plants and have a tough leathery texture, so slugs will think a garden has no good sources and be more likely to leave an area. 

It is best to plant snapdragons near vulnerable plants such as lettuces, cabbages, or other greenery that slugs usually target but should also be planted along garden paths and fences. 

What else stops slugs from eating plants? 

Beer trap technique 

If slugs are a big problem for you now then a brilliant way to stop them from munching on plants is to create a trap that the critters will be attracted to but will quickly kill them off.

Jane said: “Slugs love beer, any beer, even the terrible beer that people bring to parties, even failed home-brew. Save small jars or pots (single yoghurt pots work fine) and bury them up to their necks between where the slugs are likely to be living and your plants.”

Fill the containers with beer and slugs will be more attracted to this than the plants. Slugs will also find it difficult to crawl out of the container and will drown so it is a simple but highly effective slug control trap. 

Cereal trap technique 

If you do not have beer in your home then you can also use cereal as when it is exposed to outside conditions it will begin to ferment slightly and slugs will be highly attracted to it. 

Jane said: “The only thing better than beer in the mind of a slug is cereal. They can’t resist it. Rather than using piles of bran which can get messy, I use cheap own-brand Weetabix-type cereal and again place it between the slugs and the crops.”

You can place the cereal in a large container and once the slugs have gathered inside you can pick out the slugs or simply dispose of the container to get rid of them. 

Jane said: “This is the way that I dealt with slugs in my first garden – logging the numbers in a weird serial killer-y garden notebook. I stopped counting when I got past 4,000. It is less messy if you combine it with the Weetabix technique. Simply leave the Weetabix for three days and then go out at night and collect up all the Weetabix that should by now be covered with feasting slugs.”