My DIY pest repellant gets slugs & snails away from your plants – I learned it from a gold-medal-award-winning gardener
A GARDENING expert has revealed his top tip for keeping pests away from your vegetable patch ahead of harvest time.
He said his organic pest control hack also repels creatures that would destroy decorative plants and flowers.
Mark Lane is a gardening expert at stairlift and home lift company Stannah and a presenter on BBC’s Gardeners’ World.
Since spring began, pests such as beetles, slugs, snails, and caterpillars have been in search of plants to snack on.
He revealed there are several ways to stop them from feasting in your garden without using harsh chemicals.
“The most straightforward approach is to garden organically using companion plants and sacrificial plants and care for the soil, which will help plants to grow strong and resilient to pests and diseases,” Mark told The U.S. Sun.
“Companion plants, such as pot marigolds, attract pests by keeping them off your prized plants.
“And sacrificial plants, such as lettuces, are planted nearby in the hope that pests will go to them rather than the other plants.”
Marigolds are usually bold yellow or orange and can be planted after the risk of frost has passed.
According to Gardeners’ World, they thrive in well-drained soil in full sun and flowering can be extended by removing the dead heads.
Experts recommend saving seeds from the flowers before autumnal frost to propagate new plants the following spring.
Marigolds are believed to attract butterflies and bees while deterring pests such as cabbage worms, thrips, squash bugs, and whiteflies.
Meanwhile, lettuce seeds can thrive in moist soil from March through to September.
Slugs and snails can wreak havoc on crops if they aren’t protected.
Mark said a gold-medal-award-winning hosta grower at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show taught him to make a DIY spray that stops slugs and snails from turning prized plants into “decorative doilies.”
“In a saucepan add two litres of water, one litre of water per bulb of garlic,” he said.
“Add two full bulbs of garlic and bring to a boil.
Easy gardening tips to save money, maximize space, and repel pests
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- Banana peels, vinegar, and coffee grounds are often recommended as natural fertilizers.
- Dollar Tree sells four packs of seeds for $1.25.
- Try a vertical planter like Amazon’s Mr. Stacky 5 Tier Stackable Planter, $35 to make more use of a small space.
- Use netting like the Garden Netting Pest Barrier, $8, from Amazon to keep away bugs that eat your vegetables.
- Try sacrificial planting to reduce the use of pesticides and keep pests away from your garden. Deliberately growing certain plants to attract agricultural pests can keep them away from the plants you want to protect. Examples include marigolds, lavender, catnip, and chives.
- For pesky weeds in your garden, the Grampa’s Weeder – The Original Stand-Up Weed Puller Tool with Long Handles, $45, from Amazon is a helpful tool you can use without having to bend over.
“Crush the bulbs against the side of the saucepan with the back of a fork to release the juices.”
The gardening expert recommended removing any floating skins while waiting a few minutes for the water to turn cloudy.
He said to add two tablespoons of garlic concentrate to a 4.5-liter watering can.
“When the weather is colder and wetter, and the slugs are more active, the mix can be made stronger,” he said.
“Drench the plants, leaves, and stems. Repeat every week.”
“If more damage occurs repeat twice a week,” he added.