Slugs and snails are widely disliked among gardeners, especially when they are invading your plants and vegetable patch. These pests are nocturnal creatures, only coming out at night to feed. They are lovers of dark, damp environments and are most active during the warmer, more humid months; however, you may see slugs around any temperature over five degrees.

Tell-tale signs include slime trails and irregular holes in the foliage of your plants. Of the slugs that do feed off the plants you have lovingly grown, there are a number of things you can do to deter slugs naturally and organically – but there’s one option that stands out.

According to the experts at gardening retailer Primrose, seaweed “works great” as it is something slugs and snails “100% hate”.

They said: “Not only does seaweed work great for your soil, it is also a natural repellent for slugs.

“Slugs consist mainly of water, and the high salt content of seaweed will put them off venturing through it, even if there is food on the other side.”

They instructed: “Place the seaweed powder or fresh seaweed around your plants to ward slugs off of plants for life.”

In dry weather, fresh seaweed will dry out and become rough, further deterring slugs from crossing it.

Gardening expert @arthurparkinson_ on Instagram shared a video of his experience of using seaweed to repel these pests from the plants in his garden.

In the caption, he said: “I used seaweed to keep slugs and snails off things they can’t resist nibbling, such as the spears of the hostas that are now waking up.

“Seaweed flakes are quite expensive but they do offer the best protection and don’t harm anything.

“As well as being renowned for its fertilising properties, seaweed is hated by slugs.”