The nursery rhyme asks: 'Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow?'. But we all know that grow it will, and not always in a way that we ourselves would appreciate. So a little regular management is needed. 

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There is, of course, the regular maintenance of trimming, sweeping and generally tidying up. But leave some untidy areas for creatures to investigate and colonise. Look at our checklist and think about new features to make your garden even more welcoming. Develop a plan that incorporates some additional features in our checklist and work out the best time of year to introduce them. Here is a link to a website in Essex providing a calendar to help with this.

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Having encouraged wildlife into our gardens, we need ensure it does not make a nuisance of itself...we have to live as well!!    

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We've gathered together some ideas on management under the following headings:

Slugs and Snails

Ants

Weeds​​

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Slugs & Snails

Slugs and snails are part of an important diet for many animals, particularly our garden birds and hedgehogs. So, getting rid of them is not always the best way. Encouraging wildlife into the garden will go a long way to resetting the balance of pests and wildlife and therefore less damage to your plants.

Wildlife-friendly slug control methods involve creating barriers to deter slugs and snails, like sprinkling diatomaceous earth, coffee grounds, or eggshells around plants. You can also create slug traps using beer or citrus rinds to lure slugs away from your valuable plants. 

 

Here are more details:-

 

1. Physical Barriers:

• Diatomaceous earth:

This is a natural, sharp, sand-like material that dehydrates slugs and snails by being uncomfortable for their soft bodies. 

• Coffee grounds:

Slugs and snails are repelled by the smell and taste of coffee, so sprinkling them around plants can create a barrier. 

• Crushed eggshells:

The sharp edges of eggshells make it difficult for slugs and snails to crawl over, acting as a deterrent. 

• Sharp sand:

Similar to diatomaceous earth, sharp sand can create an uncomfortable surface for slugs to traverse. 

 

2. Slug Traps:

• Beer traps:

Slugs are attracted to beer, so you can lure them into a trap (like a paper cup or glass) filled with a small amount of watery beer, which is then buried to the rim in the surrounding soil. 

• Citrus rinds:

Citrus fruit rinds can be used as bait to attract slugs, which you can pile in a small heap and then remove from your garden. 

 

3. Other Methods:

• Mulch:

Using mulch like shredded bark or wood chips can help retain soil moisture and make it more difficult for slugs to reach plants. 

• Sacrificial plants:

Planting a few plants that slugs prefer (like marigolds) can attract them away from your more valuable crops. 

• Garlic spray:

Boiling crushed garlic and diluting the mixture can act as a slug repellent. 

• Vinegar spray:

Spraying slugs with a diluted vinegar solution can deter or kill them. 

 

Important Considerations:

• Avoid using slug pellets:

While some organic slug pellets may be available, they can still harm wildlife, so it's best to avoid them. 

• Encourage natural predators:

Hedgehogs, toads, and birds are natural predators of slugs, so creating a wildlife-friendly environment can help control the slug population. 

• Be patient:

It may take time to see results from natural methods, so be patient and persistent.

 

Ants

Ants can be useful as pollinators and soil aerators, just as they can be protectors and defenders of the plant-sucking aphid. They have their place in nature and many animals rely on them for food; they are an important food source for many of our garden visitors, but if they inhabit your home, then it may be time to take control and use something that is pet and child friendly.

Here are some home-made remedies worth trying:-

1. Combine 1 part baking soda with 1 part powdered sugar. Use a 3/4 tablespoon of each and mix it together then place on a jam jar lid. Place the mixture in a strategic location. The mixture can also be placed directly on the surface where the ants are prevalent.

2. Keep problem areas in your kitchen clean and void of any food. You can use vinegar to clean kitchen surfaces and to scrub any ant trails (vinegar is a well-known bug repellent). If you can find their point of entry, it is strongly recommended that you fill it with Borax or diatomaceous earth and seal it off with caulk or filler.

3. Mix together approximately 1/4 cup honey with about 2 Tablespoons of borax. Stir to combine. You want to create a thick paste, so add more borax or honey as needed. Take about a teaspoon of the mixture and place it onto a small piece of card. Set the card out where you typically see ants. Depending on how bad the ants are in your home, you may need to keep replacing the cards, as needed, until the ants are no longer showing up. Keep the cards out for a few days after, just in case there are a few stragglers.

4. Diatomaceous earth (DE) is inexpensive and effective; it’s also non-toxic to children, birds, and pets. And yet it destroys ants, earwigs, slugs, beetles, ticks, fleas, cockroaches, and bed bugs. As these pests move across the powder, it sticks to their feet and legs only to get into their joints and exoskeleton. To humans and pets, DE feels like powder and is completely harmless. Wear a dust mask when you’re applying it or mix it outside. There are different grades of diatomaceous earth, you want to purchase horticultural grade DE. This is a cheap form of pest control, so apply it liberally around the parameters of your house and right on the ants’ nest if you can find it. It’s also safe to use in the back of cupboards. DE isn’t an instant kill; it could take days or weeks to be rid of ants completely. But you will be rid of them without sacrificing anything else. If ants aren’t pestering you then leave them be to do ‘their thing’.

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Weeds

Weeds do have their place, can be very pretty when in flower, and are extremely important for all our garden wildlife visitors. But sometimes they crop up just where you don’t want them, on pathways and such like. Many manufactured weed killers use glyphosate which is very harmful to nature and in particular can disrupt bee navigation. When using home-made weedkillers, be patient, as it may take a few days and/or a few treatments to get rid of the weeds.

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Here are some home-made recipes for keeping on top of weeds:-

1. Boiling water is an effective home-made weed killer, especially on pathways and pavements where surrounding plants won’t be harmed. If you are targeting a cluster of weeds among other plants, be sure to avoid harming the plants you wish to keep. Try repurposing the water used to boil vegetables after use.

2. A simple, wildlife-friendly weed control solution involves a mixture of vinegar, salt, and dish soap. This recipe is effective at killing weeds without harmful chemicals, making it suitable for areas with wildlife. Vinegar solutions are organic and will degrade in the soil. However, vinegar weed killers can be potent and must be used carefully to eliminate weeds.

Recipe:

1 gallon white vinegar: Acts as the primary weed-killing agent. 

1 cup table salt: Helps dehydrate the weed. 

1 tablespoon liquid dish soap: Acts as a surfactant, helping the solution adhere to the weeds. 

Instructions:

Combine all ingredients in a spray bottle or large container. 

Shake or stir well to dissolve the salt. 

Apply the solution directly to the weeds, preferably on a sunny day. 

Reapply as needed, especially for larger or more established weeds. 

Additional Notes: This recipe is generally safe for pets and wildlife. Ensure proper ventilation when using the solution indoors, as vinegar fumes can be irritating. For best results, apply the solution directly to the weed foliage on a warm, sunny day.

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3. Another recipe would be to combine white vinegar with baking soda, salt, or lemon juice. Recipe: Mix one part baking soda with two parts white vinegar. Add lemon juice if desired. Lemon juice, with its acidic properties, can strengthen the weed-killing prowess, especially when combined with white vinegar. While this concoction primarily targets plant leaves, its effectiveness is evident when applied on a sunny day.

 

4. Lemon juice works well as it contains citric acid, an ingredient known to kill weeds – use the juice from about 5 lemons or use a readily made lemon juice. Spray it on the weeds and it will kill the leaves. Mix with Vinegar and salt for an even stronger solution.

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5. Corn Gluten Meal acts as a natural herbicide, effectively suppressing weed growth without harmful chemicals, making it ideal for organic gardeners and environmentally conscious consumers. It works by suppressing and preventing weed seeds from germinating. Rich in nitrogen and essential nutrients, this product not only controls weeds, but also nourishes your plants, promoting healthy growth and vibrant gardens. A 2lb (1 kg) bag in its granular form is enough to spread over a large garden.