A GARDENING expert has revealed a 20p trick that will help banish slugs from your garden.
And now that we are officially entering the summer months, many of those who have gardens will be preparing them for relaxation.
In fact, around 27 million Brits take part in gardening activities and 42 per cent of UK residents enjoy gardening during their free time, according to a survey carried out by Cladco deck.
But one annoyance that some garden fanatics may start to notice are pests that hover around their plants and attack them.
Snails and slugs are one of gardeners’ biggest concerns when it comes to caring for their plants.
But instead of forking out for products from stores, experts have revealed there is a much cheaper alternative that avoids the use of harsh chemicals.
Steve Chiltern, gardening expert at Leisure Bank, recommends using coffee grounds to benefit the health of plants in your garden.
He says: “Used coffee beans mean you waste less as they have actually been used.
“Used coffee grounds also tend to rot more quickly.”
Petar Ivanov, gardening expert at Fantastic Gardenersalso explained that you should not use fresh coffee grounds unless necessary.
He adds: “You will need to keep caffeine and pH levels in mind when using fresh powder.”
Make a compost
Petar recommends adding coffee grounds to compost bins or worm bins as this will improve soil structure and make plants grow better.
He says: “Because used coffee grounds decompose so well, they are a great way to make compost as they are a great source of nitrogen and potassium, which are very nutritious for plants.”
Natural deterrence
Steve also explained that using coffee grounds can be a “natural deterrent to certain pests.”
These pests include snails and slugs, which don’t like the abrasive texture and smell.
This is done by spreading coffee grounds around the plant, thus ensuring that a barrier is created to keep pests away.
Keep pests away all summer long
Wasps and hornets – hate the smell of peppermint oil, so spraying it liberally on your patio or porch can help keep them away.
Moths – Acidic household white vinegar is effective in deterring moths. Soak some kitchen paper in vinegar and leave it in the closet as a deterrent.
Flying ants – herbs and spices such as cinnamon, mint, chili pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves or garlic act as deterrents.
Mosquitoes – Plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mosses inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender, and lemongrass.
Fertilizer for plants
Steve also explained that the used coffee grounds can act as a natural fertilizer.
This can be done by scattering them on the ground.
However, while some plants like coffee grounds, others do not.
Steve says: “You should avoid using it on anything that prefers alkaline soil – like tomatoes and lavender.
“As mentioned previously, coffee grounds are an effective pest deterrent, especially when it comes to slugs and snails.”
According to experts, diluting brewed coffee with equal parts of water is enough to get results when trying to deter snails and slugs.
The technique is also organic, which avoids the use of aggressive chemicals.
This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
