THE weather is finally warming up and Brits have been busy planting beds full of vegetables or filling their outside spaces with their favourite flowers.
But there’s nothing more disheartening than seeing plants that you’ve nurtured for weeks or months destroyed overnight by snails and slugs.
The tell-tale signs they have been eating in your garden may be holes in your strawberries or tomatoes.
Though in truth, these slimy creatures will munch through pretty much anything you’re growing that’s juicy and fresh. They will also devour delicate seedlings, and can quickly wreak havoc on gardens.
If you’re looking to put an end to this pest problem, you may be tempted to rush out and invest in commercial slug pellets.
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But shop-bought products can be costly – and are often crammed full of chemicals which are equally bad for your garden and could harm pets or other animals.
If you’re looking for an easy and more natural way to keep slugs and snails at bay – which won’t cost you a packet – then one gardening pro has just the trick.
Chris Bonnett, from Gardening Express, recommends baiting the pets with beer.
He told The Sun: “People may be surprised to hear it, but beer is a really simple solution to a slug problem. It’s also probably something you already have at home.”
At Wickes, a 1kg pack of slug pellets will set you back £5.50.
By contrast, at Asda, a 12-pack of 330ml bottles of Heineken premium lager is priced at £12.
Better still, a 12-pack of 440ml cans of Budweiser is currently reduced from £10 to £9 – meaning each can costs less than £1 - great news if you’re on a budget.
"Beer is cheap to buy and is a fantastic way to capture snails and slugs that have been ruining your outdoor space," Chris said.
The way it works is simple: slugs are attracted to the scent of the yeast. This means you can offer the pesky molluscs a drink to lure them away from your prized flowers and vegetables.
“Slugs and snails love the smell of beer,” said the green-fingered expert.
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“All you need to do is pour a small amount into a shallow dish and leave it out overnight. By the morning, the pests will have made their way to the beer and gotten stuck in the liquid.”
This could be a great use for a half empty beer bottle as it’s a surefire way to solve a slug problem.
Having slithered into the liquid for a drink, these slimy pests won’t survive the night.
Just take care not to submerge the top of the dish below the soil level, as you want to avoid harming so-called ‘ground’ beetles that eat slugs.
BENEFITS OF BEER
Beer can have several other benefits in your garden beyond getting rid of slugs, according to Chris.
“Beer can have some surprising uses,” he said.
“For example, you can use it to clear rust off tools, and it's great for loosening rust on metal due to its acidity. Simply pour it on the affected area and wipe it down, along with the rust.”
It’s also a great product to use when cleaning your barbeque to save on the cost of shop-bought products.
At DIY store B&Q, you could find yourself forking out £7 for a 500-ml bottle of barbeque, grill and oven cleaning spray, while you can buy a beer for less than £1.
“The acidity in beer breaks down debris and dirt left on the BBQ, making it easier to remove," Chris explained.
The gardening whizz recommends first turning the BBC grill on for around 10 minutes.
“Let it heat up and soften any debris,” he said.
“Once you’ve turned it off, pour a small amount of beer onto the surface, and let it sizzle away before scrubbing the grill with a scouring pad.”
Beer can also be used to remove stains from garden tables and chairs.
“It can help to revive old wooden furniture,” said Chris.
“All you need to do is pour some beer on a cloth before wiping down wooden areas. Once you’ve done this, go over the area again with a clean, dry cloth.”
Another of Chris’ top tips is to try adding beer to your compost pile.
“Not only will it keep it moist, but the natural yeast and sugars it contains can also help break down the organic compounds in your compost and make it richer.”
"The key with beer is to make sure you use it properly. Just avoid using it excessively, as that would lead to a very sticky – and probably smelly situation.”
Read more here about how one expert banishes pests such as caterpillars and aphids with chilli and garlic.
And find out more here about how an animal expert uses mint, marigolds and daffodils to keep rats at bay.
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