Snails and caterpillars are a gardener’s worst nightmare as they eat any plant they come in contact with and can destroy months of hard work overnight.
Gardener and founder of Makkelijke Moestuin, Jelle has shared a simple homemade solution that naturally prevents snails and other pests from nibbling on your beloved plants.
He said: “This spray helps control caterpillars, slugs, snails and all kinds of other pests. Like ants, aphids, caterpillars and whiteflies.
“It contains oil (from garlic) and soap, so it sticks to the plant. This suppresses aphids and small larvae. And that makes the leaves inedible for those pests – not for you.”
How does it work?
Garlic is very effective at keeping slugs away because it contains sulfur, which tastes terrible, so it doesn’t like it and it also irritates them a lot.
Snails have a very sensitive sense of smell, so combining garlic and onion creates a powerful mixture that repels them naturally.
Cayenne pepper is a spice that snails hate and will do anything to avoid in the future if they taste it.
The washing-up liquid helps the mixture adhere better to the leaves and foliage of the plants, but it can also break down the snails’ protective mucus layer, making them susceptible to other ingredients.
Jelle said: “They will avoid the plants you have sprayed. The smell is quite intense. Use the spray and your garden will smell like a French kitchen.”
How to keep slugs away naturally using a homemade solution
You will need:
- One liter of water
- Five cloves of garlic (minced)
- One small onion (chopped)
- One teaspoon of cayenne pepper
- One tablespoon of dishwashing liquid
Method:
Fill a spray bottle with water, then add chopped garlic and onion. Screw the lid on and let the solution marinate for two to three days.
When the time is up, strain the water to get rid of the vegetables, then add the cayenne pepper and dish soap.
If you have problems with the solution being too thick and clogging the nozzle, strain it again through a cloth napkin or coffee filter. Then spray your plants with the homemade solution every few days or after it rains.
Jelle said, “This is best done early in the evening because that’s when the slugs and snails come out.”
A homemade spray should repel snails and other pests, such as caterpillars and aphids, so that garden plants remain protected for the insects’ dinner.
