Today 
Slugs will avoid any plants that are tough, hairy and bitter. They'll choose lettuce over chicory, Brussels sprouts over sprouting broccoli, and chrysanthemums over dandelions. Then there are plants with hairy, glossy or waxy leaves, which prevent their tongues scraping away the surface. Also unpopular are those with pungent-smelling foliage, such as lavender. The fragrance is contained in vessels that fracture when touched to release essential oils, which, for slugs, must be like gargling perfume.
20 top slug-beaters
We've found the following plants to be most resistant to slugs. Of course, resistance does not mean immunity, but if you pick from this list, it's a satisfying way to repell slugs without extra cost, effort or chemical side effects.
- Aquilegias
- Astilbes
- Astrantias
- Begonias
- Crocosmias
- Euphorbias
- Ferns
- Fuchsias
- Grasses
- Hardy geraniums
- Hellebores
- Hydrangeas
- Japanese anemones
- Lady's mantle
- Lavenders
- Lilium henryi
- Pelargoniums
- Penstemons
- Roses
- Sedums
Top tips for foiling slugs
Don't overfeed young plants in spring, as this only encourages soft growth, which slugs love to eat.
Try to water the garden in the morning, rather than the evening, as trails of water over the garden create night-time slug highways. Water at the roots if possible, or dip potted plants in buckets of water.
Piles of sweet bran under hostas creates something of a mollusc free-for-all at night. Then just pick them off the piles in the morning.
You could grow a sacrificial offering, perhaps a tasty lettuce or two, in your borders, and ensure you regularly pick off the culprits.
Encourage natural predators. Plant trees to act as roosts, and berry-producing plants, such as holly, to entice thrushes into the garden. Create a pond to provide a habitat for frogs, newts and toads, all of which consume unfeasibly high numbers of slugs each night.
For more on slug busting
- Organic and chemical solutions for dealing with snails.
- Practical advice from Garden Organic.
- Backyard Nature explains the biology and habit of slugs and snails.
- A fun website for snail fans.
