THEY’RE a total nuisance when it comes to plants.
So it’s little wonder that gardeners are constantly looking for different ideas and methods to keep slugs away from their green spaces.
One person took to the Mrs Hinch Cleaning Tips group on Facebook to ask for advice, and was keen to be as humane as possible getting rid of the critters.
“Anyone know how to keep slugs out of your house and garden without hurting them please?” she wrote.
And she was quickly inundated with different suggestions, with one standing out from the rest.
“I’m a barber and lately I’ve had a few customers asking for bags of hair to put around the outside of poly tunnels and planters as slugs can’t get past it,” one replied.
“Don’t know how practical this is for you but it certainly stops them!”
“Thanks so much!” the poster replied.
In fact, using hair to deter slugs is a method that’s been around for years.
In an article of Gardening Tips on the Peter Nyssen website, they wrote: “Make friends with your local barber and ask for the hair clippings!
“Sprinkle a thin layer of human, cat or dog hair around your plants and the slugs won’t go on it.
“The hair will also add plant-feeding nitrogen to the soil as it slowly decomposes.”
If you aren’t keen on going to your local hairdresser to request some hair cuttings, you can grab some from your hairbrush or even your dog bed if you have a pet.
There are also some other budget ways you can keep slugs away, including using grapefruit.
“Eat half a grapefruit for breakfast and then use it as a slug trap,” the pros continued.
“Put a couple of small holes in each side and then turn it upside down.
Hornets and wasps – hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay.
Moths – acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mossies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.
“Slugs love grapefruit and will gather to eat it, instead of your plants.”
You can then “put the grapefruit, slugs and all, onto your compost”.
Epsom Salts are another way of deterring slugs, and also have the added benefit “of preventing magnesium deficiency in your plants”.
