Gardening expert Monty Don has shared his top tips for keeping slugs and snails under control in the garden without using harmful chemicals or slug pellets. In an April 2024 blog entry, the horticulturalist explained his approach to managing these common pests.
Understanding Slugs and Snails
Monty Don described slugs and snails as "public enemy number one" for gardeners, but he emphasized their role in recycling waste vegetative matter. He noted that slugs live largely underground and like damp conditions, while snails live above ground and favor dark nooks and crannies such as old brickwork or yew hedges. There are over 30 species of slug in the UK, but only four are common garden pests, and the largest do not necessarily cause the most damage. According to Don, visible slugs represent only a tiny percentage of the population, and densities can exceed 250,000 per acre.
Avoiding Harmful Chemicals
First and foremost, Monty Don advised against using any slug pellets or chemicals that might harm wildlife. Instead, he recommended using a compact, slug-free cold frame or table to cultivate delicate young plants and inspecting for slugs daily. He also emphasized feeding the soil rather than the plant, avoiding soft, sappy growth that attracts slugs. Additionally, he suggested growing plants as "hard" as possible without stressing them with sudden temperature or cultivation changes.
Encouraging Natural Predators
Monty Don highlighted the importance of attracting a diverse array of natural predators to the garden. He relies on thrushes, frogs, toads, beetles, centipedes, shrews, and hedgehogs to help keep slug populations in check. To support these predators, he recommended providing plenty of cover, avoiding toxic chemicals like slug pellets, and tolerating some collateral damage.
