The pretty £2.99 plant that is a slug ‘magnet’ & will stop them chomping on your flowerbeds – it smells nice too
WHILE they may not be the fastest moving creatures, slugs can quickly ruin your flowerbeds.
One woman revealed the plant that can help protect your garden from the pests.
Commenting on a Reddit post, user Indigowulf shared the “slug magnet” she swears by.
Instead of spraying down poison or trying your hand at a DIY repellent hack, she suggested planting a flower to draw slugs away from your garden.
The poster revealed the most effective plant for attracting slugs.
“Plant comfrey around the edges of the plants you want to protect,” she advised.
She explained that the pretty flower has a scent that draws slugs toward it.
“Comfrey is a slug magnet, they will stay on that plant and leave the rest alone for the most part,” the Redditor said.
Packets of comfrey seeds are available for £2.99 from Thompson & Morgan.
It is regarded by most gardeners as easy to grow and manage.
The “hardy perennial” is also known as a Symphytum officinale and has a variety of benefits.
Among them are healing properties, though experts recommend against applying to open wounds.
You should also never consume the plant orally.
Healthline reported that oral preparations of the plant have been linked to liver damage and cancer.
It is however used in Japanese medicine as a topical treatment for joint inflammation, bruising, muscle sprains, and burns.
To attract slugs, some experts suggest trimming the leaves and placing them in far corners of your garden.
This method is said to successfully draw the creatures away from your flowerbeds.
Why do we have so many slugs this time of year?
Gardening experts at Iowa State University explained that slugs are most prominent in our gardens from spring to late summer.
This is because the creatures enjoy cool moist conditions and tend to bury themselves in our flowerbeds to avoid hot summer days.
Slugs also lay their eggs in soil, which hatch in spring, allowing a new batch to emerge during the summer months.
For the best results, leave the piles of leaves out overnight as slugs are nocturnal.
You can dispose of the leaves in the morning and repeat the process if necessary.
Reddit users shared their thoughts on the pest repellent advice in the comments section.
“I love comfrey and will try this! Thanks,” wrote one impressed reader.
“I’ve noticed this. I removed them and they were suddenly all over my thyme, chives and other plants. I’ll plant one back with a terracotta pot next to it,” said another person.