Slugs and snails, with their insatiable appetites, can be an utter nightmare for gardeners, swiftly destroying seedlings and plants. Astonishingly, these slimy pests can devour several times their own body weight in plant material in a matter of just one day, wreaking havoc on gardens.
Their uncanny ability to appear seemingly out of nowhere makes them particularly troublesome, especially in mild and damp conditions prevalent in the UK. The issue was highlighted recently on the Gardening UK Facebook page, where fellow horticulture enthusiasts congregate to share tips and woes.
Gail Morgan reached out on the platform, expressing her ongoing battle against these pesky molluscs that had a particular taste for her dahlias, reports the Express. Despite trying a variety of deterrents including wool pellets, copper tape, and even nightly patrols, none had proven effective until she stumbled upon a rather unconventional, yet pet-friendly solution: garlic water.
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Gail enthusiastically announced her discovery, posting: “I have to share this win – I can confirm garlic water instantly repels and keeps the slugs and snails away. I have not been able to get my dahlias to grow at all this year, as soon as there was a shoot it was eaten.
“Having a dog I needed pet-friendly options. I tried wool pellets, copper tape, gel, and midnight hunts but I could not get rid of them. I made a garlic water spray once a day and it worked brilliantly. I’m just so pleased it works.”
The response from the online gardening community was one of curiosity and support. Among the group members chiming in was Michelle Kelly, who shared her optimism after deploying the same tactic: “Brilliant, this brings me much hope that the garlic spray I made earlier today will save my dahlias. I’ve lost so many already.”
Alex Duxbury said: “I think I read once that was what the gardeners use at Buckingham Palace to look after their gardens and keep pests away.” Deborah Davies said: “My Dad tried mixing garlic paste with water this year and watering his hostas with it and yes it worked.”
Karen Quinn added: “Garlic spray definitely helps on hostas but I hadn’t thought to try it on the dahlias. It’s so cheap too. I picked a garlic bulb up at Sainsbury’s for 24p.”
Rose Gilbert said: “I’ve been putting pine cones around my hydrangeas. Apparently will help keep blue as well as keep slugs off as it acts as mulch too. I think this has been working but I’m definitely going to try the garlic on the hostas. Someone else recommended this technique and it works for them too.”
Lucy Lu said: “Yes I have tried it too. It’s effective but needs sort of daily application.”
Gail, when asked about concocting the garlic solution, said: “I’ve just used a saucepan of water to half a bulb of garlic, and it has worked wonders! Just put it into a spray bottle and spray when I water my plants.”
Even pros at Sienna Hosta stand by the power of garlic water, employing it as a “slug deterrent” and recommending a weekly application.
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