Gardeners common misconceptions about slugs debunked: 12 Myths Regarding Slugs Revealed to Be False
In the world of gardening, the humble slug has long been a nuisance for many a green-fingered enthusiast. However, a new book by author Jo Kirby, titled The Good Slug Guide, offers a fresh perspective on these often-maligned creatures.
Kirby, a retired academic and a lifelong gardener, has written a comprehensive guide that encourages gardeners to view slugs and their natural enemies not as adversaries, but as an integral part of a balanced ecosystem.
The book highlights the natural enemies of slugs and snails in a garden, which include frogs, toads, ground beetles, birds, and nematodes. To foster these beneficial predators, Kirby suggests creating a welcoming habitat. This can be achieved by providing moisture, shelter, and natural hiding places for these animals.
Frogs and toads, for instance, can be attracted by creating a small pond or wet area. Ground beetles prefer organic mulch or leaf litter, while birds are drawn to shrubs and trees for cover. Nematodes, microscopic worms that infect and kill slugs, can be introduced to the soil as a natural biological control.
To provide a home for these natural enemies, Kirby advises against removing all garden debris, as some shelter is beneficial for predators while also removing excessive hiding places for slugs. Instead, gardeners should maintain a balance by clearing only the very thick, dense shelter favored by slugs but leaving areas where beneficials can hide.
The book also emphasizes the importance of a diverse garden with native plants, shrubs, and possibly a water source to attract amphibians and birds. Organic mulches and avoiding broad-spectrum pesticides that harm beneficial insects and animals are also encouraged.
In addition, companion planting with herbs like basil, garlic, rosemary, sage, thyme, and plants with tough or aromatic leaves (such as fennel or certain heirloom vegetables) may deter slugs and favor beneficial insect populations.
However, it's worth noting that some common garden myths about slugs have been debunked. For example, the idea that tidying up the garden denies slugs food is a myth, as slugs have diverse dietary requirements that are not limited to dead plant material. Similarly, the notion that denying slugs shelter makes the garden a hostile place for them is counterproductive, as it also discourages the natural predators of slugs and snails.
Despite their reputation, many garden slugs are harmless and provide ecosystem services, such as processing decaying material. The book also clarifies that slugs are not strictly vegetarians, as they will go out of their way to satisfy their protein needs, scavenging on dead animals, faeces, and even hunting live food such as earthworms.
The Good Slug Guide does not promote traditional methods of slug control such as flinging slugs over the garden fence, smearing pots with salted Vaseline, or snipping slugs in half. Instead, it provides advice on adding more plants and organic matter, pruning less, and digging less to accommodate the natural enemies of slugs in the garden.
Recent research indicates that hedgehogs and toads, which are often encouraged in gardens to combat slugs, do not eat many slugs and may even eat more ground beetles, which are natural enemies of slugs.
The book also addresses the issue of slug pellets, explaining that while iron phosphate slug pellets are less harmful than those made from metaldehyde, they are less effective against the Spanish slug, a common garden pest, compared to their effectiveness against the grey field slug in agriculture.
In conclusion, The Good Slug Guide offers a refreshing approach to gardening, encouraging gardeners to embrace the natural enemies of slugs and snails and creating a garden that is both beautiful and balanced. With the wealth of information and practical advice provided, this guide is a must-read for anyone looking to create a sustainable and slug-friendly garden.
- Jo Kirby's book, The Good Slug Guide, encourages gardeners to view slugs and their natural enemies as an integral part of a balanced ecosystem in their gardens.
- To attract and foster beneficial predators like frogs, toads, ground beetles, birds, and nematodes, Kirby suggests providing moisture, shelter, and natural hiding places in the garden.
- In addition to just plants, The Good Slug Guide emphasizes the importance of a diverse garden with native shrubs, water sources, and certain herbs to deter slugs while favoring beneficial insect populations.
- Instead of traditional methods to control slugs like flinging them over the garden fence or using toxic substances, The Good Slug Guide provides advice on creating a garden that is both beautiful and balanced, accommodating the natural enemies of slugs and snails.
