Gardening is an excellent hobby because it’s healthy and fulfilling, especially when flowering or harvesting season comes along.
But it’s not without its challenges.
Without the proper know-how, your plants might be in danger of being consumed by little garden critters.
Such suspects are the slimy slugs and snails which can munch on the soft stems and leaves of your plants.
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But Jacob is here to help.
Jason is the owner/operator of the YouTube channel Jacobs Backyard Gardening.
He says there are a lot of ways to get rid of garden critters and crawlies and most of these items are available in gardening stores or plant nurseries.
However, most of these items are chemicals that you won’t like using regularly.
Besides, slugs and snails are part of your local ecology so it’s best to just veer them away from your plants.
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So how can you get rid of these snails and slugs? The good news is most of the substances and things he’ll use are already inside your pantry or your disposal bin.
First off is our breakfast favorite.
Egg shells have always been a staple when it comes to natural gardening implements.
Some gardeners and vegetable farmers mix the shell in compost for added nutrition.
But you can use eggshells as a kind of shrapnel trap for slugs and snails.
Crush the egg shells then sprinkle them around the plants you want to protect. It’ll be like crawling over broken glass for these slimy crawlies. Ouch.
Next is another breakfast favorite – coffee.
Do you love making and brewing your coffee? Do you happen to have a garden? Well, this method is perfect for you!
Caffeine can be a pick-me-upper for humans but for smaller creatures, it can be quite the zap.
Soak your used coffee grounds in water, drain them, and then sprinkle the grounds around your plants.
You can reuse the drained water by spraying it directly onto snails and slugs.
The next one is quite interesting.
Do you know that snails and slugs started the culture of “cracking open a cold one?” The garden crawlies love beer which makes it a great bait.
All you need is a discarded milk carton.
You can also use a jug but you might need some additional tools. Cut a “window” in the middle of the box.
Fill the box with beer or orange juice with yeast – just a little bit under the hole cut-out.
Then, bury the carton in the soil. The hole should be on the soil level. This will attract slugs and snails into your “watering hole, ” making them fall into the trap.
The last aren’t biodegradable but not as intrusive.
You can use aluminum foil to fence off your baby plants.
Fold the aluminum foil to make a fence about two inches high. Make sure to crumple the foil a bit because that’s the secret.
Snails and slugs hate crawling over these crumpled surfaces.
The next one isn’t readily available in your pantry. But can be bought in nurseries and gardening stores.
We’re talking copper.
Specifically, copper tape, which can make a perimeter around areas like your plant box or shed.
Copper tape works like an electric fence and is a good long-lasting deterrent.
See how to protect your garden from slugs and snails in the video below!
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