Dealing with Slugs & Snails: Tips for Gardeners

Slugs and snails are common pests that can wreak havoc on gardens, munching on leaves, flowers, and fruits with voracious appetites. While they may seem harmless due to their slow pace, their presence can be detrimental to your plants. However, there are several effective strategies you can employ to manage these slimy intruders and protect your garden.

Protecting Your Garden from Slugs: Using Garlic Wash Method
Welcome to our guide on safeguarding your garden from slugs and snails using the natural and effective garlic wash method. Here, we'll walk you through the process step by step, ensuring your plants stay healthy and vibrant all season long.

What is Garlic Wash and How Does it Work?
Garlic wash is a simple yet potent solution made from garlic cloves and water. When applied to your garden, it acts as a natural deterrent for slugs and snails, preventing them from feeding on your precious plants. The strong scent of garlic repels these pests, keeping them at bay without harming your garden's ecosystem.

Ingredients You'll Need:
- 2 garlic bulbs
- 2 litres of water
- Large pot
- Strainer or cheesecloth
- Sprayer or watering can

Step-by-Step Guide:
1. Prepare the Garlic: Ensure the garlic bulbs are clean and free from any dirt or debris.
2. Boil the Garlic: Place the garlic bulbs in a large pot and cover them with 2 litres of water. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat and simmer until the garlic cloves become soft and tender.
3. Strain the Garlic Solution: Once the garlic cloves are soft, remove the pot from the heat and allow the mixture to cool slightly. Using a fork, squeeze as much of the soft, juicy garlic pulp out of the cloves as possible. This helps to extract the maximum flavour and potency from the garlic, ensuring that your garlic wash is as effective as possible in repelling slugs and snails.
4. Strain the Mixture: Using a strainer or cheesecloth, strain the garlic-infused water into a clean container, separating the liquid from the garlic pieces.
5. Dilute the Solution: Measure out approximately 2 tablespoons of the garlic-infused water and add it to a sprayer or watering can filled with water. Aim for a dilution of 2 tablespoons per 5 liters of water.
6. Apply to Your Garden: Spray or water your garden plants, focusing on areas where slugs and snails are most likely to feed. Be sure to cover both the foliage and the surrounding soil for maximum protection.
7. Repeat as Needed: Apply the garlic wash once a week, particularly during the active growing season from February to October. Reapplication may be necessary after heavy rain or watering to maintain effectiveness.

Benefits of Using Garlic Wash:
- Natural and eco-friendly solution
- Safe for plants, humans, and pets
- Cost-effective and easy to make at home
- Acts as a repellent for slugs and snails without harming beneficial insects

Aside from using garlic wash, several other methods can effectively protect plants from slugs and snails. Here are some alternative strategies:

1. **Copper Barriers:** Slugs and snails are repelled by copper, so placing copper barriers around plants can deter them. This can be achieved by using copper tape around pots or creating raised beds with copper sheeting.

2. **Beer Traps:** Slugs and snails are attracted to the scent of beer. Bury shallow containers filled with beer in the soil near vulnerable plants. The pests will be lured into the traps and drown.

3. **Handpicking:** Regularly inspect your garden, particularly during dusk and dawn when slugs and snails are most active. Remove them by hand and dispose of them in a bucket of soapy water or relocate them away from your garden.

4. **Natural Predators:** Encourage natural predators of slugs and snails, such as birds, toads, frogs, and ground beetles, by providing habitat and food sources in your garden. Additionally, consider introducing nematodes, which are microscopic organisms that prey on slugs and snails underground.

5. **Mulching:** Applying mulch around plants can create a physical barrier that makes it difficult for slugs and snails to reach them. Use materials like crushed eggshells, pine needles, or coarse gravel, which can also be abrasive and uncomfortable for the pests to crawl over.

6. **Saltwater Solutions:** While effective, this method should be used with caution as salt can harm plants and soil if applied in excess. Create a saline solution by mixing salt with water and spray it directly onto slugs and snails, or create a saltwater barrier around plants.

7. **Natural Repellents:** Certain plants, such as mint, rosemary, and lavender, have strong scents that repel slugs and snails. Planting these herbs around vulnerable plants or using their essential oils as a spray can help deter pests.

By combining these methods and practicing good garden hygiene, you can effectively protect your plants from slugs and snails while maintaining a healthy and thriving garden ecosystem.

For more information and gardening tips, explore our website or reach out to our team for assistance.
Happy gardening!

Welcome to Wall to Wall Plants

We’re a small, start-up nursery rooted in the historic village of Wall, near Lichfield, Staffs. Our business name is inspired by this unique place, once known as Letocetum, a bustling Roman settlement at the crossroads of Watling Street and Icknield Street. Today, Wall is a peaceful village where the remains of a Roman military staging post and posting station still stand—a testament to the history and resilience that we carry into our work at Wall to Wall Plants.

Gardening has been part of my life since childhood, inspired by my Father and Grandfather’s love for cultivating the land and living off its bounty. I learned the joy and patience of working with plants in our family’s smallholding, where the garden was alive with fruit, vegetables, and flowers. Today, that legacy lives on in Wall to Wall Plants, where we propagate and grow most of our hardy, peat-free perennials, designed to flourish in diverse garden spaces with minimal maintenance.

We would also like to honour the memory of Richard Emeny, an extraordinary gardener whose passion and creativity shaped my love for small urban gardens. His teachings and the incredible garden he created remain a constant inspiration, even though he is sadly no longer with us.

Our collection includes resilient favourites like Salvia, Penstemon, Geranium, Geum, and rare Hemerocallis, along with unique bulbous perennials like Eucomis. We also offer Agastache, Verbena, Sedum, Heuchera, and ornamental grasses to bring texture, movement, and drama to any garden. Guided by our “Right Plant, Right Place, Right Plan” philosophy, we help you find plants that will thrive in your garden’s specific conditions.

By propagating and growing most of our plants ourselves, we ensure each one is nurtured with care from the very beginning. This hands-on approach allows us to maintain high standards while staying connected to the plants and the people who cherish them. We also stand behind the quality of our plants with a 30-day money back guarantee—if you’re not completely satisfied, we’ll make it right.

Explore our range at plant fairs, and pre-order for easy pick-up. Visit our website and Instagram for updates, gardening tips, and inspiration as we continue sharing our passion for vibrant, resilient plants. 

Buy Plants

Meet the Grower

Welcome! I’m Peter, the founder and grower behind Wall to Wall Plants. Inspired by my family's deep connection to the land, I personally handle every single plant that leaves the nursery. From propagation to care, I ensure that each one is grown with the dedication and attention it deserves, ready to bring beauty to your garden, border, or container display.