Slugs and snails are a nightmare to any gardener, but Alan Titchmarsh has claimed planting four flowers in your garden could help naturally deter the hungry molluscs
You could banish slugs from your garden just by planting the right flowers.
There’s nothing worse for a gardener than waking up in the morning to find holes in all your plants’ leaves because slugs and snails have made a meal out of them. The molluscs are an important part of a garden’s ecosystem as they also eat dead leaves, but that doesn’t stop them from being annoying when they feast on plants that are very much still alive.
You don’t have to let your plants suffer in silence, however, as it turns out there’s an easy way to keep slugs and snails at bay – simply by planting some other flowers. According to gardening guru Alan Titchmarsh, there are four plants you can put in your garden today to naturally deter the pesky animals.
Ferns
Not only are ferns relatively easy to care for, but they are also one of the most resilient plants in deterring both slugs and snails from your garden. Alan explained in an interview with the Gardeners’ World Magazine podcast: “You think they are boring, aren’t they? Well, they are not and they are brilliant for shady spots.”
There are multiple ferns to choose from, but whichever one you pick – from royal to crested – can last for several years and are a simple pest-deterrent to look after. The gardening expert recommended specifically picking up a Dryopteris, also referred to as a Wood Fern, as these thrive in areas that lack moisture. As slugs and snails like damp conditions, keeping plants that like things dry is an easy way of making sure the molluscs stay away.
Geraniums
While ferns might be great for deterring slugs and snails, they don’t bring much colour to your garden as they don’t flower. So for those looking for a flash of bright colour while also keeping pests at bay, geraniums could be the answer. These plants are easy to take care of and thrive in the sunshine, and Alan said the flowers will last “right the way through the summer” to keep your gardening looking beautiful for months.
Alchemilla
If you’re not convinced that sun-loving plants are enough to keep slugs away, then try planting Alchemilla. This plant, also known as Lady’s Mantle, has striking bright yellow flowers and can help banish slugs and snails for an entirely different reason. On the podcast, Alan explained: “It has these scalloped-edged leaves which hold on to water like quicksilver … which are coated in very fine down … which puts slugs and snails off eating them.”
That’s not the only benefit to Alchemilla either, the Daily Mail reports, as it can also stop weeds from emerging in flowerbeds and borders. The plant has broad leaves that spread widely outwards, leaving no room or light for weeds to grow in the soil beneath.
Fuchsias and Penstemons
Last on Alan’s list are the bright and colourful fuchsias and penstemons. These plants both tend to grow bigger than the other flowers on the list and can even reach knee height under the right conditions. However, the gardening expert warned these flowers won’t survive the cold weather and are only a good slug deterrent in the summer.
Summing up his slug-beating tips, Alan said the best thing to do is look for flowers with downy stems or fluffy leaves, as pests will usually leave them alone because they don’t find them as tasty to eat.
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