Great British Bake Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle has shared how to make a homemade spray that will keep slugs away from your garden for good – and you only need four ingredients
Summer gardens are currently in full bloom, boasting vibrant flowers and nearly ripe crops – but slugs pose a real threat, as these hungry pests can decimate plants virtually undetected until the evidence appears on tattered leaves. Nancy Birtwhistle, former Great British Bake Off champion and household expert, has come to the rescue with an easy homemade solution to banish these slippery garden invaders for good.
She explained: “Even the keenest eyes can oversee bugs and pests and if left untreated can soon damage your favourite roses, shrubs and veggies. “I have spent time reading and trying various natural bug treatments over the past two years.
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“Some potions had no effect whatsoever and after much trying and failing, trying and failing I consider the following two recipes to be effective.”
DIY pest repellent for blooming gardens
You’ll need:
- 500g of rhubarb leaves (not the stalks)
- One litre of cold water
- 20 drops of clove bud oil
- One or two drops of eco-friendly washing-up liquid
Firstly, shred rhubarb leaves using scissors, next pour one litre of cold water into a saucepan, drop in the leaves, and let it simmer for half an hour, reports the Express.
Allow the concoction to cool down in the pan before straining. Transfer the liquid to a large spray bottle.
For the finishing touch, add a couple of drops of washing-up liquid and 20 drops of clove buds oil. Give it a good shake before spraying around your plants to keep pests at bay.
However, it’s worth noting that oxalic acid is toxic which is why it shouldn’t be used on crops and should be avoided if you have pets, but there is another alternative homemade spray you can use.
Nancy stated: “This spray contains oxalic acid which is a poison and for that reason, I will not be using it on my edibles – fruit, vegetables etc. Add the boiled leaves to the compost heap.”
How to keep pests away from your vegetable and fruit crops
You will need:
- 60g of nettles
- 600ml of cold water
- Six drops of clove bud spray
- One or two drops of eco-friendly washing-up liquid
Chop the nettles into two or three inches and then place them in a large pan or bowl with a lid and pour over 600ml of cold water. Stir the mixture ensuring the nettles are completely submerged in the water, then place the lid on and leave the mixture outside in your garden.
Forget about the mixture for at least a week but it is better to wait two weeks, then take off the lid, stir the mixture and strain it.
It should be noted that this nettle homemade repellant will smell “really awful” according to Nancy which is why it works so well to deter pests from eating your plants.
However, brace yourself for the smell when you open the lid. It might be best to wear gardening gloves and an apron to ensure the liquid does not get on your clothes.
Pour the liquid into a spray bottle and add two drops of eco-friendly washing-up liquid and six drops of clove bud oil, then give it a good shake and spray.
Nancy explained: “This spray I will use on my vegetables as it not only kills aphids, the clove bud oil will deter insects, the washing up liquid helps it to stick to the leaves and not run straight off and the foul-smelling nettle water is adored by plants and will give them a welcome liquid feed.
“I would not harvest any vegetables until two days after spraying and wash well.”
She also stressed the importance of timing when applying these homemade solutions, highlighting that evening is the best time to avoid harming beneficial daytime pollinators like bumblebees.
Nancy went on to advise: “Always spray after the sun has gone down, when the weather is still and dry. Never spray during the day when our important flying insects – bees, wasps, butterflies, ladybirds etc are out doing their best.”
