David Domoney's top tips to keep pests off your plants
Getting out in the garden can be rewarding, but how do you stop losing your crops to uninvited visitors? If your flower beds are being invaded by bugs and pests, fear not! David Domoney will be sharing some foolproof methods to protect your plants, and keep your garden flourishing.
How can we protect our plants from slugs and snails?
Grow plants that slugs don't like: Ferns, Geraniums and Bergenia have thick leaves that slugs find difficult to chew. Lavender, Rosemary and Sage have a strong scent that slugs will avoid.
Give slugs bran: Slugs will gorge on it and become bloated, making them easy targets for hungry birds.
Water strategically: Never water your plants at night. Slugs are nocturnal and rely on moist conditions.
How can you make slug traps?
Beer traps: Half fill a yoghurt pot with beer and place this in the ground near the plants you’d like to protect. Slugs and snails will be attracted to it and crawl inside.
Put copper around your pots: Copper reacts with slug slime, producing a shock, so they avoid it.
Mulch / Gravel: Put sharp and dry gravel or slate inside pots as slugs find this difficult to crawl over.
Wool: Wool absorbs moisture making it difficult for slugs to cross over.
How can we encourage garden predators?
Birds: Put up feeders in your garden to encourage birds who will prey on slugs.
Amphibians: A wildlife pond will bring creatures like newts, frogs and toads, who enjoy eating slugs.
Hedgehogs: Create a ‘highway’ into your garden by making a small hole in a fence.
Bug Hotels: Decaying wood attracts ladybirds, bees, woodlice & spiders. They eat insects which feast on your plants.
What about homemade insecticides?
Neem oil: A natural pesticide which is non-toxic to birds, mammals, bees and plants.
Soap Spray Solution: Use a teaspoon of washing-up liquid diluted in water.
Use sticky tape: For catching Green Flies, White Flies, Thrips, Black Flies and Midges.