SLUGS are the bane of every gardener’s life.
But Britain’s favourite gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh has one method that he swears by for combating the slimy slitherers.
GettyWarm wet weather means slugs are having a field day in our gardens[/caption] AlamyAlan Titchmarsh has one method he swears by for protecting his blooms[/caption] AmazonCopper tape creates a deterrent barrier that stops slugs getting your plants[/caption]Writing in County Life, the 76-year-old spoke about his lifelong battle with the garden pests – and his resistance to the idea that ‘slugs are our friend’.
The Gardening Club star says he favours copper rings that sit around the base of the plant.
The copper rings are more expensive as they can be reused multiple times – they typically retail for between £25 and £30.
However, those who are greenfingered on a budget can instead invest in copper tape – which works in the same fashion and is available for only £4.99 on Amazon for a 25-metre roll.
Titchmarsh said: “The only things that have worked for me are those rings of copper that resemble a vicar’s clerical collar and which can be pushed into the ground around individual plants to discourage the molluscs from coming any closer.
“They are reputed (if kept clean) to impart a kind of electric shock to any slug or snail attempting to scale their dizzying height of 1in.”
How does copper tape work?
The copper tape works by imparting an electrical charge that gives the slug a small static shock.
The tape can be trimmed to size and wound around the lips of lower pots and planners – creating an uncrossable barrier.
Other slug deterrent methods
The veteran presenter has tried a number of other methods for tackling the slug menace over the years – with limited results.
Titchmarsh says he long ago stopped using slug pellets, which cause the slugs to convulse but also pose a poisoning threat to hedgehods and birds.
The CBE has also tried various products that create a sharp or uncomfortable texture for the slugs to crawl over.
However, crushed eggshells, holly leaves, sharp grit, gravel and even sheep’s wool were all ‘at best, unreliable and more often than not totally ineffective’, according to Titchmarsh.
Coffee grounds are another foodstuff often touted as a slug repellent, but Titchmarsh says he doesn’t drink enough of it – plus he prefers that his garden doesn’t smell of Starbucks.
That leaves hand-picking them off plants by hand in the evening, a time-intensive procedure that also requires gloves if you want to avoid slimy hands.
Titchmarsh says he has had some sucess with pot feet, which only allow the more acrobatic slugs to gain access to your prized blooms.
Gardeners could be forgiven for feeling confused about how best to combat slugs given the array of techniques floated for dealing with this in recent years.
One gardening fan claimed that garlic helped to repel slugs and snails – even posting a recipe for a garlic spray.
Another intriguing possibility suggested as a natural pest deterrent is foxgloves, whose purple flowers contain toxic compounds such as digitalis glycosides, which can be very harmful for slugs.
Why having slugs in your garden is a good thing
Yes, they chomp your precious plants, but having slugs in your garden should be celebrated.
Rebecca Miller, Associate Editor for Fabulous, and novice gardener, believes we should work in harmony with slugs and not try to get rid of them altogether.
“We’ve been conditioned as a society to believe we must have gardens with straight edges, short lawns with pretty stripes and perfect borders with flowers constantly blooming.
But unruly hedgerows, abundance of tall wildflowers buzzing with insects, and bugs and slugs galore in flowerbeds is totally natural – and necessary.
I understand that your plants might be very precious to you, but we need slugs and snails. They provide food for all sorts of mammals, birds, slow worms, earthworms, insects – and they are part of the natural balance.
By removing them, we upset the ecosystem and can do a lot of harm – thrushes in particular thrive on them!
It is said British Gardeners use some 650 billion slug pellets per year! Please find a natural alternative – the poison from slug pellets enters the food chain and can kill hedgehogs, who consider slugs and snails as a tasty treat.
If you’re truly desperate, consider using Diatomaceous Earth – it is a naturally occurring compound approved for organic use, that can be used for pest control.
And while you’re at it, challenge yourself to grow “sacrificial plants”.
Sacrificial planting, commonly known as trap cropping, is the deliberate act of growing plants to attract pests. Pick a slugs favourite vegetable or ornamental plant for them to nibble on, and they will leave your more precious plants alone.”
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