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.
Comments and rating
Overall rating (from 14 ratings):
5 out of 5
could someone please tell me why i have the only astrantias in the world that get eaten by slugs and snails - they appear on all the lists of plants they don't like which is why i bought them in the first place but every year they get eaten to the ground - any explanations?
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
3 out of 5
sounds great i will definately plant some of these in my newly aquired allotment.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I have a few of these plants but will some more any day soon. Thank's for a great magazine.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
5 out of 5
found this really interesting. just a warning about astrantias. make sure you protect the young growth as slugs find them very yummy when the new growth is just emerging!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
5 out of 5
Slugs are a nightmare in my garden, and last year I was given loads of petunias - apparently total slug magnets, as few survived to give me a couple of flowers before succumbing to the slugs' voracious appetites. I have tried copper rings, sticky slug repellent, beer traps and none have been particularly successful. I won't use pellets as I have two young children, and a pond is out for the same reason. Guess there are some things I will never get to grow! Sigh.... I dream of Hostas....!!!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
5 out of 5
Artemisia (wormwood) is also recognised as a plant to deter slugs. My mature plant seems to work but the slugs devoured a young one as quickly as any hosta! My conclusion from this is that slugs do not discriminate if plants are young and tasty! Last year, I discovered a congregation of slugs under one of my planters. I moved the planter and the blackbirds and thrushes soon moved down to the exposed slugs.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
5 out of 5
I found this item really good and wanted to keep it in my scrap book but no matter how I tried I couldn't incorperate this or the bumble bee artical into scrap book. one miniut it allowed me in then it wouldn't. I have used scap book before and worked the system OK! I am now tearing my hair out, has any one else suffered at the hands of scapbook?
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
4 out of 5
good tips :D
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
This is great to know but if, like me, you aren't happy sticking to slug-free planting, then Nemaslug is worth the £10! I used it for the first time last summer and didn't have any slugs or snails in my veg/flower gardens. Just add the powder to your watering can and water it in. It lasts for 6 weeks and doesn't harm any wildlife (except slugs and snails!). Even if I lost track of the weeks, I could tell when the sixth week arrived because the munching signs started again on my plants.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
5 out of 5
I've never seen any slug damage on my bergenias and they make a lovely early show in the spring. I've had snail damage on the leaves of tulips but all other bulbs. especially alliums seem to be immune. To get a sure-fire spectacular display of flowers why not try small shrubs eg. hebes. just grow them large enough to be inedible to a snail first in a pot.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
4 out of 5
My mother uses old coffee grounds around her hostas and it works brilliantly at keeping slugs away. I think they find it hard to slide across the grains. I've had partial success using them on my young basil plants but that may be because I've not been methodical enough in applying them regularly.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I have found it useful but I am struggling with my Astrantia, the slugs keep munching on it, the little devils.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
5 out of 5
Loved this AND all the comments, HATE slugs and there's always an abundance of them but not of the flowers and follage. I take GREAT pleasure of putting on my wellies after it has rained and stomp all over the tufts of grass and smile to myself when I hear all the scrunching beneath my feet!!
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
I grow quite a lot of the plants above plus bergenias, creeping jenny, verbena bonariensis and they seem ok once well grown.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
4 out of 5
excellent. will try the nemaslug on our lettuce and hosta.in my new plot.
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.
mikematthews rated and commented on this article
29 January 2009
5 out of 5
i have been after plants that are slug prove thank you for the article mmatthews
Link to this comment
Report this comment
You are about to report a comment for breaking our Code of Conduct.
Please note, we will not remove a post just because you disagree with what is being said.
This form can only be used for reporting a comment. If you want to contact us please go to our contact us page.