Gardeners urged to do key job in March to stop slugs eating everything

As the soil in our warms up this spring, more and more slugs will head out to feast on new growth. Experts recommend that people act quickly this month to stop the pests from eating everything in their gardens.

are advised to use nematodes to fight back against slugs. The microscopic creatures act as parasites on other insects, releasing bacteria to kill them. There are around 95% more slugs in your garden than you ever see because they live underground. Only nematodes will reach this part of the slug population, making them stay below the ground surface before they die. 

Nematodes are a biololgical, not chemical, pest control and are specific to the targeted pest. This means that other wildlife will not be affected by their use and they are completely safe around humans.

As well as slugs, nematodes can be used on leatherjackets, ants, chafergrubs, fruit flies, carrot root fly, onion fly, gooseberry sawfly, colding moth and vine weevils. However, they can be expensive meaning it’s important to pick the right one and use them in the right conditions. 

Nematodes typically work in three to seven days but you need the soil to be over 5C to use them. The pests or their larvae also need to be active, which means that March is a great time to use them.

Finally, nematodes should be applied when light levels are low due to their sensitivity. This is usually very early in the morning or at dusk.

Experts also recommend gardeners to remove any decaying foliage or leaf litter from their outdoor areas. These conditions give slugs a perfect place to hide out.

said: “As the soil warms up, slugs will begin their annual banquet on fresh new growth. Nematodes are a simple, organic method of keeping them at bay – they are available online and they are more effective than any chemical treatment (which should be avoided at all costs!). Continue to remove any decaying foliage or leaf litter from borders, as this will give slugs an ideal place to hide out.”