A GARDEN expert has urged plant lovers to bury a £1 beverage in the garden this spring, to keep slugs out of the vegetable patch.
Now that , and blue skies are upon us many of us will be donning our gloves and and planting flowers.
However, the warmer days and humid nights are the perfect conditions to re-emerge, and wreak havoc on your.
The unwelcome visitors love and seedlings, and if you're not careful, could leave you with nothing come harvest season.
“The biggest concern is the emergence of young slugs,”; Tom Clamp, head of technical atDoff Portland– a leading manufacturer of premium garden care products said.
“They’re particularly hungry and are indiscriminate feeders, meaning they can quickly decimate tender crops like vegetable seedlings, strawberries and bedding plants while potatoes are also vulnerable.”;
The critters often feed at night, and can consume a whopping 40 times their body weight, often leaving a nasty surprise for gardeners in the morning.
With this in mind, the garden care expert has shared some simple tricks to keep pesky slugs at bay.
1. Beer Traps
One of the simplest methods you can use to banish slugs from your garden, is to bury a small container of in the garden.
“Bury a small container at soil level, half-filled with beer, to attract and trap slugs overnight,”; Tom suggested.
The slugs will be attracted to the smell of the beer and will climb inside the container, before drowning in the liquid.
Make sure to check the container every night, and remove any dead slugs.
are currently selling a pack of 12 beers for £13.50, meaning that each drink costs just £1.12 each, so this hack will be sure not to break the bank.
2. Copper Tape
Another simple trick you can use to banish slugs is to place copper tape around pots or raised beds harbouring your precious plants.
“Copper tape is an easy and effective deterrent”, said Tom.
When slugs come into contact with the tape, they receive a harmless static shock, that discourages them from crossing.
As the tape is the same colour as most plant pots, it will largely go unnoticed, meaning that the aesthetic of your garden won't be ruined.
Copper tape can be picked up from Amazon for just £2.99.
3. Encourage Natural Predators
Encouraging natural predators in your garden is another great way to banish slugs.
Some of the natural predators of slugs include hedgehogs, frogs. toads and beetles.
Tom explained: “Building habitats like log piles, wild corners or adding a pond can encourage wildlife into your garden.
“A healthy, biodiverse garden is nature’s best defence.”;
