Latest news with #JackStook
The Sun
2 days ago
- Climate
- The Sun
Slugs get so stuck in 10p DIY solution they can't escape so your plants will FINALLY stop getting chomped
THE WARM and wet weather is the perfect conditions for slugs, with the persistent pest chomping away at gardeners precious plants. Fruit and veg are all targets for slugs who emerge at night to eat leaves. 3 3 They love the night and high humidity but hide during the day. With wet weather forecast for the weekend, gardeners are preparing for super slug damage. There are a number of DIY slug hacks all gardeners have tried, including cucumber, tea towels and copper tape. We can't wait to try this low-cost, 100% organic hack from the King's senior gardener Jack Stook. The organic and home-made slug catcher has the royal seal of approval – but with a paupers price tag. All you'll need are some common kitchen ingredients and a container. To create your DIY slug trap you'll need some yeast and sugar, and a container to create your slug trap. To save money, you can use the base of a bottle with the top cut off. Simply mix a tablespoon of yeast and a tablespoon of sugar to water and pour into the container. When you're done, bury the container in the soil with the lid exposed to catch any slugs sliding by. I'm a gardening expert and these are my top hacks to stop slugs taking over your garden as UK invasion worsens How does the DIY slug trap work? It works, because slugs are attracted to the yeast. By mixing yeast, sugar and water you create a frothy and fermented mixture that slugs love. This hack is so popular because it's low cost and creates no waste. OK, so keen gardeners will spot that it's not entirely new. Gardeners have been using the beer trap for centuries. Slugs have always preferred the leftovers of a pint to precious plants. This DIY slug hack achieves the same result – but saves you from cracking open a can. Leave the container exposed for the evening and you'll come back to your very own slug pub in the morning. The smell of the fermenting liquid can prove hugely popular so don't be surprised if you wake to see a container full of drunk critters. You can remove the slugs and replace the mixture as often as you need to. Your outdoor beast brewery is cheaper and better than pouring away good beer. It's a DIY slug trap that we can all raise a toast to. 3 Why having slugs in your garden is a good thing Yes, they chomp your precious plants, but having slugs in your garden should be celebrated. Rebecca Miller, Associate Editor for Fabulous, and novice gardener, believes we should work in harmony with slugs and not try to get rid of them altogether. "We've been conditioned as a society to believe we must have gardens with straight edges, short lawns with pretty stripes and perfect borders with flowers constantly blooming. But unruly hedgerows, abundance of tall wildflowers buzzing with insects, and bugs and slugs galore in flowerbeds is totally natural - and necessary. I understand that your plants might be very precious to you, but we need slugs and snails. They provide food for all sorts of mammals, birds, slow worms, earthworms, insects - and they are part of the natural balance. By removing them, we upset the ecosystem and can do a lot of harm - thrushes in particular thrive on them! It is said British Gardeners use some 650 billion slug pellets per year! Please find a natural alternative – the poison from slug pellets enters the food chain and can kill hedgehogs, who consider slugs and snails as a tasty treat. If you're truly desperate, consider using Diatomaceous Earth - it is a naturally occurring compound approved for organic use, that can be used for pest control. And while you're at it, challenge yourself to grow "sacrificial plants". Sacrificial planting, commonly known as trap cropping, is the deliberate act of growing plants to attract pests. Pick a slugs favourite vegetable or ornamental plant for them to nibble on, and they will leave your more precious plants alone." What happens to the slugs? The slugs in your DIY trap will drown in fermenting liquid (but it's not a bad way to go). If you're searching for a more humane way to rid your garden of slugs, you can head out at night when it's wet and humid and collect them in a bucket. Once you're happy you've got them all, you can take them someone safe, like a grassy or wooded area and set them free.
Scottish Sun
01-05-2025
- General
- Scottish Sun
Asda is selling a handy gadget that will keep your lawn green and healthy this summer – it's £11 cheaper than Screwfix
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) GARDENERS can perfect their lawns ahead of the summer season with a handy gadget. And Asda shoppers can now pick it up for less than half the price of the Screwfix version. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Asda shoppers can pick up a bargain buy designed to leave gardens green and healthy (stock image) Credit: Getty Keeping your lawn hydrated is vital, especially during warm sunny weather. Now, you can sit back and relax as a budget-friendly buy does all the work for you. Simply set up this gadget in your garden and let it take care of the rest. The Oscillating Sprinkler is currently available for just £8 from Asda. This item boasts up to 221 squared-metre coverage, making it ideal for use in most gardens. It has 17 nozzles as well as a cleaning pin sliding tab to allow for easy adjustment. A similar item is available from Screwfix, but at a significantly higher price. The GF Gardening Astral Four Oscillating Garden Sprinkler is listed for £19.99. And despite the higher price point, this item covers less ground than the Asda version. The Screwfix sprinkler is advertised as covering up to 160 square-metres. Alan Titchmarsh's 'easiest' tip will fix bald patches on your lawn in two minutes flat this spring & no it's not seeding This item has 16 nozzles and offers a "continuously variable watering arc from 20-100 degrees". According to manufacturers, this sprinkler has a maximum flow rate of 15 litres per minute. When it comes to turning on your sprinklers, the rule of thumb is the earlier the better. Experts recommend watering your lawn before the warmest part of the day. Ideally, you should hydrate your grass in the early morning, up until 10am. Royal gardener Jack Stook's top tips for green lawns JACK, who has worked at King Charles' Highgrove House for 20 years, shares his top tips.. Scarify the lawn with a rake to remove any old leaves and moss Add nitrogen fertiliser into the soil Alternatively, put granular feed over the lawn, or a 'plant soup' from plant material over the lawn When the sun is lower in the sky and the air is cooler, this minimises water loss through evaporation. Meanwhile, Home Bargains is selling an affordable gadget that attracts birds to your garden. Another Home Bargains buy will keep your flowers flourishing throughout the summer. And a popular Lidl gardening gadget is available for £410 less than the Bosch version. Aldi has a bargain pressure washer designed to transform your patio and fences. 3 Asda shoppers can pick up an Oscillating Sprinkler for just £8 ahead of the summer Credit: Asda
The Irish Sun
01-05-2025
- General
- The Irish Sun
Asda is selling a handy gadget that will keep your lawn green and healthy this summer – it's £11 cheaper than Screwfix
GARDENERS can perfect their lawns ahead of the summer season with a handy gadget. And Asda shoppers can now pick it up for less than half the price of the Screwfix version. 3 Asda shoppers can pick up a bargain buy designed to leave gardens green and healthy (stock image) Credit: Getty Keeping your lawn hydrated is vital, especially during warm sunny weather. Now, you can sit back and relax as a budget-friendly buy does all the work for you. Simply set up this gadget in your garden and let it take care of the rest. The Read More On Gardening This item boasts up to 221 squared-metre coverage, making it ideal for use in most gardens. It has 17 nozzles as well as a cleaning pin sliding tab to allow for easy adjustment. A similar item is available from Screwfix, but at a significantly higher price. The Most read in Fabulous And despite the higher price point, this item covers less ground than the Asda version. The Screwfix sprinkler is advertised as covering up to 160 square-metres. Alan Titchmarsh's 'easiest' tip will fix bald patches on your lawn in two minutes flat this spring & no it's not seeding This item has 16 nozzles and offers a "continuously variable watering arc from 20-100 degrees". According to manufacturers, this sprinkler has a maximum flow rate of 15 litres per minute. When it comes to turning on your sprinklers, the rule of thumb is the earlier the better. Experts recommend watering your lawn before the warmest part of the day. Ideally, you should hydrate your grass in the early morning, up until 10am. Royal gardener Jack Stook's top tips for green lawns JACK, who has worked at King Charles' Highgrove House for 20 years, shares his top tips.. Scarify the lawn with a rake to remove any old leaves and moss Add nitrogen fertiliser into the soil Alternatively, put granular feed over the lawn, or a 'plant soup' from plant material over the lawn When the sun is lower in the sky and the air is cooler, this minimises water loss through evaporation. Meanwhile, Home Bargains is selling an Another Home Bargains buy will keep your flowers flourishing throughout the summer. And a popular Lidl gardening gadget is available for £410 less than the Bosch version. 3 Asda shoppers can pick up an Oscillating Sprinkler for just £8 ahead of the summer Credit: Asda 3 A similar sprinkler is currently available from Screwfix for £19.99 Credit: Screwfix
