THEY'RE one of the most annoying garden pests - particularly at this time of year. And as well as checking your lawns , there are two little-known places slugs love hiding away in that you should add to your daily pest checklist. According to gardener Jane, slugs can often be found underneath plant pots and in and around piles of decaying leaves.
There are various ways you can deal with slugs, including chemical pellets, but they are widely discouraged because of the effect they can have on pets and local wildlife. And Jane prefers a natural method for keeping slugs away, which she accidentally discovered. "I planted out my rows of carefully nurtured seedlings - cornflowers, marigolds, poppies, cosmos, nigella, snapdragons," she explained.
Read more Gardening stories "Within two days the slugs had eaten everything but the snapdragons. "Slugs don't like snapdragons!" The pretty flowers are an effective way to keep slugs away because they contain chemicals that are toxic to the pests. Snapdragons also have less moisture than some other plants, meaning that slugs will think the garden doesn't have any good sources, and will leave.
Most read in Fabulous To make the most out of the snapdragon deterrent, plant them near vulnerable plants usually targeted by slugs, such as lettuces and cabbages. And don't forget to put them along garden paths and fences too. They won't cost you much either, as you can get snapdragon seeds for just £2 a pack.
Jane, the founder of Snapdragon Life , a.