People laugh at me but it works’ gardening pro says as he shows £5 two-ingredient plant solution slugs ‘won’t go near’
NOW that the warmer weather has arrived, UK gardens are beginning to blossom.
But with blooming flowers, and crops comes unwanted pests who want to chomp away at them.
Although it is natural that slugs feed on leaves, ripening fruits and vegetables, extensive feeding can result in a dying plant.
And it can most commonly occur in damp and mild conditions.
Luckily, this can be prevented.
Tried and tested by gardening enthusiast Sam bargain two-ingredient plant solution hack which slugs “won’t go near.”
The ingenious method will cost £5 and is super easy to follow, anyone can do it.
Sam, who shared their tip on the TikTok page @bilgemehmet23, said it involves modifying a plastic plant pot.
This is done by creating space at the bottom of the pot by cutting a hole which allows for root growth into the soil.
He then applies petroleum jelly around the rim and scatters salt on the rim, before then placing the plant pot over his crops.
He swears that you don’t have to fork out on expensive salts, and just find the “cheapest” on the market.
His partner Billie also confirmed in the video that the trick “actually works.”
Cheap salt
She said: “If we don’t put it on there, by the morning, we’ve got a slug problem again. They just don’t go near it.”
Because there is a hole at the bottom of the plant pot, and Sam places it over the plant it means that a shield has been created and he can continue to water it.
The shield also adds a bigger deterrence to slugs.
He says: “So this will protect my plant, and I’ll be able to water it individually as well.
“People laugh at me, but really, I’ve had a slug problem before so I just thought, let’s just try it. And it’s worked for us.”
According to Dr Gordon Port, a senior lecturer at Newcastle University, salt causes major dehydration for slugs.
Tips for keeping pests from your garden
- Plant companion plants such as peppermint to repel rats.
- Place Garden Netting Pest Barrier, over your flowerbeds.
- Fill open-top containers with beer and place in soil to repel slugs.
- Spray plants with Neem Oil, to repel ants, flies, and spiders.
- Dust your flowerbeds with Diatomaceous Earth.
- Mix 1 tablespoon dish soap, 10 drops peppermint oil, and 4 cups water and spray on flowerbeds.
- Place eggshells around your plants to protect from slugs and snails.
He said: “Salt essentially draws the water out of their skin – an osmosis effect – and they die within minutes of dehydration.
“Slugs and snails are extremely dependent on a high water content in their bodies. They constantly need water to replenish any loss.
“We don’t know how much pain they feel when in contact with salt, but a slug or snail caught in granules will try to wiggle away while exuding a lot of mucus to clean their skin.”
According to experts petroleum jelly is also a good way to protect potted plants from slug damage due to its slippery texture which makes it difficult for a slug to grip onto a surface.
His advice created a big reaction on TikTok with over 4k people rushing to the comments section to share their thoughts.
Another suggested: “I cut up cucumber & leave it in the same place every evening, they eat until they’re full & never touch my plants/veg.”
Someone else added: “I make something similar.
“I heat the Vaseline first and mix in lots of table salt and peppermint oil. Works a charm. Easier to apply this way.”