Gardeners told to use 22p kitchen staples for ‘vampire trick' which can banish slugs from your garden for good
Now that summer is finally here, many Brits will be looking for ways to spruce up their outdoor spaces - including getting rid of any nasty critters.
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Slugs and snails are notorious for wreaking havoc on gardens, in particular during rainy patches when they come out in their swathes to feast on crops and plants.
Over the years, experts have come out with a whole host of - often ineffective - methods to combat these garden pests.
From splashing beer and sprinkling eggshells on crops to surrounding veg patches with copper tape.
But one savvy expert believes they have found a cheap, store cupboard hack that could rid gardens of these pests once and for all.
Gardeners have been urged to introduce garlic to their gardens as a means of deterring the slugs.
And at just 22p a bulb, this could be the cheapest hack yet.
Garlic wash involves boiling two whole bulbs of garlic in two litres of water until they soften, then pulping them to make a juice.
After removing the garlic skins, the concentrated liquid should be diluted with water and put into a spray can which can be used over plants.
The liquid should then be sprayed on plants across the summer right into October.
A gardening expert wrote: "We use garlic wash as a slug deterrent on the nursery.
6 ways to get rid of slugs and snails
"Please find below the recipe that we use and find very effective. The quantities aren't exact and you can always alter them as you wish."
If the smell of garlic is too pungent Homes & Garden writer, Thomas Rutter, suggests using cucumber instead.
Stopping slugs and snails using the cucumber hack is surprisingly simple.
While it may not eradicate these pests, it can help gardeners control their numbers.
Rutter said: "First, raid your fridge drawer and retrieve a cucumber, before slicing it thinly.
"Don't worry about the quality of the cucumber here, in fact, it is best to use those that are past their best."
Rutter then advises to place the slices near your more vulnerable plants in the evening.
Slugs and snails will be lured to the scent and moisture of the cucumber.
Then, after a few hours or the following morning, you can collect the pests and dispose of them.
It's not too dissimilar from companion planting or trap plants for pest control.
But what's better is that it's a chemical-free approach, safe for pets and requires almost no effort.
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