“Learn how to effectively deter slugs and snails from invading your garden with our comprehensive guide! Your garden is your oasis, a place you want to keep free from these damaging pests. Slugs and snails can wreak havoc on your plants, leaving holes and destruction in their wake, especially targeting young plants and seedlings. But don’t worry, there are natural solutions to keep these troublemakers at bay. We spoke with pest experts and a professional gardener to gather their tips and advice.
Meet the Experts:
– Nicole Carpenter, president at Black Pest Prevention
– Trent Frazer, resident entomologist at Aptive Environmental
– Paul Dysinger, gardening expert and co-founder at Seedtime.us
Try Using Infrared Lighting:
For smaller gardens, infrared lighting can be a useful tool to deter slugs and snails. These pests are most active at night, and infrared lighting disrupts their behavior, making your garden less appealing to them. Install dim, red-spectrum solar lights near vulnerable plants to deter slugs from infiltrating your garden. Experiment with positioning the lights to find the optimal angles for maximum effect.
Eliminate Excess Moisture and Dense Vegetation:
Slugs and snails are drawn to moist, shaded areas with dense vegetation. By reducing dense plant growth, you can make your garden less inviting to these pests. While this method is natural and chemical-free, it requires ongoing maintenance to keep your garden less hospitable to slugs and snails.
Use Copper Tape as a Barrier:
Create a physical barrier with copper tape to prevent slugs and snails from reaching your plants. Simply place the tape around raised beds or pots to deter these pests. Copper tape is a cost-effective and continuous solution, but it may lose effectiveness if damaged over time.
Attract Natural Predators:
Encourage birds and garden toads, natural predators of slugs and snails, to inhabit your garden. Plant bird-friendly flowers and provide birdhouses and fountains to attract birds. To attract toads, create a welcoming environment with added water features. While this method is eco-friendly and sustainable, it may take time for birds and toads to establish a presence in your garden.
Consider Using Slug Fences:
Slug fences create a physical barrier that slugs cannot climb over, helping to protect your plants from these pests.”
According to Paul Dysinger, a gardening specialist and co-founder of Seetime.us, seek out raised beds with distinct corners and angles to deter snails and slugs from scaling them. He recommends adding a slug fence for further safeguarding, stating, “This method is completely natural and highly efficient.” Nonetheless, implementing this approach requires dedication and meticulous maintenance to prevent any vulnerabilities. Dysinger emphasizes the importance of ensuring the fence encloses the entire garden area. For more details, refer to the original piece on Martha Stewart’s website.
