Four-ingredient homemade spray keeps slugs away for good

Great British Bake Off winner Nancy Birtwhistle has shared how to make a homemade spray that will keep slugs away from your garden for good - and you only need four ingredients
Summer gardens are currently in full bloom, boasting vibrant flowers and nearly ripe crops - but slugs pose a real threat, as these hungry pests can decimate plants virtually undetected until the evidence appears on tattered leaves. Nancy Birtwhistle, former Great British Bake Off champion and household expert, has come to the rescue with an easy homemade solution to banish these slippery garden invaders for good.
She explained: "Even the keenest eyes can oversee bugs and pests and if left untreated can soon damage your favourite roses, shrubs and veggies. "I have spent time reading and trying various natural bug treatments over the past two years.
‌
"Some potions had no effect whatsoever and after much trying and failing, trying and failing I consider the following two recipes to be effective."
‌
DIY pest repellent for blooming gardens
You'll need:
500g of rhubarb leaves (not the stalks)
One litre of cold water
20 drops of clove bud oil
One or two drops of eco-friendly washing-up liquid
Firstly, shred rhubarb leaves using scissors, next pour one litre of cold water into a saucepan, drop in the leaves, and let it simmer for half an hour, reports the Express.
Allow the concoction to cool down in the pan before straining. Transfer the liquid to a large spray bottle.
For the finishing touch, add a couple of drops of washing-up liquid and 20 drops of clove buds oil. Give it a good shake before spraying around your plants to keep pests at bay.
However, it's worth noting that oxalic acid is toxic which is why it shouldn't be used on crops and should be avoided if you have pets, but there is another alternative homemade spray you can use.
‌
Nancy stated: "This spray contains oxalic acid which is a poison and for that reason, I will not be using it on my edibles - fruit, vegetables etc. Add the boiled leaves to the compost heap."
How to keep pests away from your vegetable and fruit crops
You will need:
60g of nettles
600ml of cold water
Six drops of clove bud spray
One or two drops of eco-friendly washing-up liquid
‌
Chop the nettles into two or three inches and then place them in a large pan or bowl with a lid and pour over 600ml of cold water. Stir the mixture ensuring the nettles are completely submerged in the water, then place the lid on and leave the mixture outside in your garden.
Forget about the mixture for at least a week but it is better to wait two weeks, then take off the lid, stir the mixture and strain it.
It should be noted that this nettle homemade repellant will smell "really awful" according to Nancy which is why it works so well to deter pests from eating your plants.
‌
However, brace yourself for the smell when you open the lid. It might be best to wear gardening gloves and an apron to ensure the liquid does not get on your clothes.
Pour the liquid into a spray bottle and add two drops of eco-friendly washing-up liquid and six drops of clove bud oil, then give it a good shake and spray.
Nancy explained: "This spray I will use on my vegetables as it not only kills aphids, the clove bud oil will deter insects, the washing up liquid helps it to stick to the leaves and not run straight off and the foul-smelling nettle water is adored by plants and will give them a welcome liquid feed.
"I would not harvest any vegetables until two days after spraying and wash well."
She also stressed the importance of timing when applying these homemade solutions, highlighting that evening is the best time to avoid harming beneficial daytime pollinators like bumblebees.
Nancy went on to advise: "Always spray after the sun has gone down, when the weather is still and dry. Never spray during the day when our important flying insects - bees, wasps, butterflies, ladybirds etc are out doing their best."

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Daily Record

16 hours ago

• Daily Record

Penny Lancaster gushes 'dreams came true' after sweet moment with Rod Stewart

Penny Lancaster has taken to Instagram to share a sweet insight into a rare public outing with her husband, Sir Rod Stewart, as the couple marked a very special occasion Sir Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster embarked on a nostalgic journey this week, retracing the steps of their romance. To fans' delight, they visited the spot where they tied the knot in 2007. The legendary musician, 80, and his model wife, 54, set off aboard the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express – a lavish private train service. ‌ Their destination was La Cervara in Portofino, the idyllic setting where they wed almost 20 years ago, yearning to relive those treasured moments. ‌ Penny couldn't contain her excitement about the trip, referring to it as her "dream come true" in an endearing Instagram update. Enamoured by the opulent voyage, she penned: "Entering a bygone era @vsoetrain from Paris where we got engaged to Portofino where we got married 18 years ago, it's totally magical Sir Rod Stewart." Additionally, the loved-up pair shared adorable an snapshot of themselves at the train station, dressed in matching pink ensembles. While Penny donned a dusky rose dress with a fruity pattern, Sir Rod pulled out all the stops with a bold fuchsia blazer. The charming photo has been liked more than 30,000 times, attracting comments filled with warmth and good wishes. ‌ One follower remarked: "Sounds fantastic retracing your first journey. Wishing you both the best time. You look beautiful in the outfit you have chosen and there is only one Sir Rod Stewart – always looking dynamic." A second admirer commented: "Glad to see you're doing well. Congratulations on your wedding anniversary." And a third fan cheered: "Have a wonderful time! Couple goals right there." ‌ Inside Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster's enduring love story Veteran rockstar Rod Stewart and his partner Penny Lancaster, a model, photographer, and TV personality, have been an item since 1999, first locking eyes at a swanky bash held in the Dorchester. However, it was when Penny was commissioned to photograph him on tour that the couple's romance began to blossom. They got engaged in 2005 and tied the knot two years later on June 16, 2007, amidst the picturesque backdrop of Portofino, Italy. The duo has expanded their family with two children: Alastair Wallace Stewart (born in 2005) and Aiden Patrick Stewart (born in 2011). As well as this, Rod is a father to six other children from past relationships, including those with his exes Alana and Rachel Hunter.

Edinburgh Live

16 hours ago

• Edinburgh Live

Penny Lancaster says 'my dreams have come true' in Rod Stewart marriage update

Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info Sir Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster took a trip down memory lane this week. The music icon, 80, and model, 54, boarded a train to a place that's very close to their hearts. They got married in La Cervara in Portofino back in 2007 – and wanted to return to the picturesque scene to relieve their wedding memories almost two decades later. The pair enjoyed a luxurious trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express, which is a private train service. And Penny described the journey as her "dream come true". In an Instagram post, she gushed: "Entering a bygone era @vsoetrain from Paris where we got engaged to Portofino where we got married 18 years ago, it's totally magical Sir Rod Stewart." (Image: The pair also posted a sweet picture together. It shows them standing in front of a train in matching outfits. Both Penny and Rod opted for pink attire. But while the former kept things low-key with a dusky rose dress, her husband went all-out with a fuchsia blazer. The cute post has racked up more than 30,000 likes since it was uploaded, as well as plenty of comments of support. One commenter said: "Sounds fantastic retracing your first journey. Wishing you both the best time. You look beautiful in the outfit you have chosen and there is only one Sir Rod Stewart – always looking dynamic." Another gushed: "Glad to see you're doing well. Congratulations on your wedding anniversary." Meanwhile, a third added: "Have a wonderful time! Couple goals right there." Inside Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster's relationship Rod Stewart and Penny Lancaster have been in a relationship since 1999. Penny, a model, photographer, and television personality, apparently first clapped eyes on the music legend at a party in the Dorchester. She was later hired to photograph him on tour, which is when sparks first started flying. They got engaged in 2005 and went on to marry on June 16, 2007, in Portofino, Italy. Together, they have two sons: Alastair Wallace Stewart (born 2005) and Aiden Patrick Stewart (born 2011). Sir Rod also has six other children from previous relationships – including with his first wife Alana and second wife Rachel Hunter. Penny and Rod have been open about facing challenges, including fertility struggles before the birth of their second son. They also give glimpses inside their marriage on occasion. As well as sharing updates to social media, Penny has also appeared on Loose Women. During various episodes of the daytime TV show, she has discussed family life and marriage. Penny is also likely to give more details about her relationship with Sir Rod in her soon-to-be-published book. Earlier this month, she spoke about the release of an intimate memoir titled 'Someone Like Me'. It promises to take readers through previously untold aspects of her life journey as a former model. Sir Rod proudly shared the big news across his own social platforms, affectionately dubbing the work as "The light of my life's new memoir".

The Sun

a day ago

• The Sun

The 20p hack that makes flies turn around and fly back out of your house – they hate the smell & it lasts for weeks

SOAKING up the sunshine is one of the best parts of summer, but with the hot weather comes a whole host of pests to deal with. One of the more common pests households deal with are flies, which can take over gardens and homes. 2 2 Luckily, you don't have to spend a fortune on gadgets to try and get rid of them, this simple trick will work wonders. It was shared by This Morning pro, Nancy Birtwhistle, and at just 20p you can't go wrong. Her hack is perfect for keeping bugs at bay, and better yet, it's an eco-friendly option that won't harm the environment. First, Nancy warned to keep food away from areas flies might gather, including waste in bins, which can be covered with a lid. "They [flies] hate the smell of citrus and they hate the smell of cloves," she said, explaining how easy it is to keep them at bay. With this in mind, she suggested creating a DIY method to deter the pesky insects. All you need to do is cut a few lemons in half and then stick the cloves into the juicy part. Although the fresh scent is lovely for us humans, the flies can't stand it and will find somewhere else to go. "They just hate it," the pro said as she explained how she keeps a just one in her conservatory, and in other rooms around her house. "My husband just didn't believe this until he saw a fly come in, see this, turn around and fly out," she added. 6 ways to get rid of slugs and snails After around a week, the lemon scent will begin to fade, so you can take the cloves out and reuse them with fresh lemons, to keep your home smelling fresh and keep the flies out. And since a bag of lemons from Asda will set you back just 99p, as will a bag of cloves, this back works out at just pennies. If, like most people, you like to leave windows and doors open during the warm summer months, you could also stick one of the clove lemons there too, to deter them from coming inside. "But two easy solutions can be to regularly pour hot water down your drain (every three-five days) which will effectively clean the drains and kill the eggs, larvae and any adult flies." What are house flies? House flies got their name by being the most common household fly. With their hairy black bodies and translucent wings, these insects can be found worldwide. They generally live for between 15 and 25 days and can survive without food or water for two to three days. What causes a lot of flies in the house? House flies are highly attracted to manure, and can often be found around farms. They generally stay within a mile or two of their birthplace, but they have been known to travel up to 20 miles. House flies enjoy being in the sun, and will perch in sunny spots around your home. Bright lights at night can also attract flies. IF you want to ensure that your home is pest free this summer, here's what you need to know. Hornets and wasps - hate the smell of peppermint oil so spraying this liberally around your patio or balcony can help to keep them at bay. Moths - acidic household white vinegar is effective for deterring moths. Soak some kitchen roll in vinegar and leave it in your wardrobe as a deterrent. Flying ants - herbs and spices, such as cinnamon, mint, chilli pepper, black pepper, cayenne pepper, cloves, or garlic act as deterrents. Mosquitoes - plants, herbs and essential oil fragrances can help deter mozzies inside and out. Try eucalyptus, lavender and lemongrass.