Slugs and snails 'absolutely detest' kitchen scrap that helps flowers in the garden 'thrive' when applied to foliage
Coffee is toxic to snails and slugs
PA
Curating a beautiful garden is a lengthy and rewarding process, so it's crucial to protect the space from unwanted pests.
Gastropods, like slugs and snails, will munch on pretty much anything that crosses their path as long as it’s plant-based.
What's more, gardens in the UK often become invaded by pests when measures aren’t taken to control their numbers.
One of the best compost ingredients for deterring snails and slugs may thankfully be sitting in your kitchen pantry.
Coffee is toxic to snails and slugs
PA
It’s been shown that coffee grounds are excellent for deterring molluscs because they contain caffeine, which is toxic to snails.
This finding was first presented by the Agricultural Research Service scientists' report in the scientific journal Nature.
The researchers wrote: “We have discovered that solutions of caffeine are effective in killing or repelling slugs and snails when applied to foliage or the growing medium of plants.”
The hack was recently highlighted in a TikTok clip by gardening enthusiast @gardening.with.ish, who shared several ways to use the kitchen scrap.
According to the expert, the slug deterrent is also an excellent plant fertiliser because it packs a generous amount of potassium and nitrogen.
“One thing people don’t realise is that you can ask your local coffee shops, like I do at my local coffee shop, for their used coffee grounds,” he said.
“You can use them in amazing ways to feed your plants. One of the easiest ways to feed your plants with coffee grounds is simply to place them on the ground around them.
“It’s high in nitrogen, so it will feed the root. It’s high in potassium, which is great for things like flowers and even fruits."
The gardener continued: “Also, slugs and snails absolutely detest them. While slugs may hate coffee grounds there is one animal that might be a bit more inquisitive, they’re your dog or your cat.
“It does feel a little odd putting coffee straight into your plants but they’ll thank you for it. With all those nutrients packed into something as small as an espresso coffee pod, or something from your local barista, it’s amazing how much your plants will absolutely thrive on grounded coffee."
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
Gardeners can easily prevent slugs from invading their outdoor space
PA
To avoid attracting pets, the gardener recommends turning the coffee grounds into a liquid feed, by simply mixing them with water.
It should be noted that many slugs prefer to eat rotting material and could be considered a gardener’s friend.
Most gardeners consider the gastropods an enemy because they enjoy eating live plant materials, however.
Gardeners should avoid watering in the evenings if they notice numbers rise, as the molluscs prefer damp and dark conditions.