Do eggshells really protect your plants from slugs? And what can you do about moles? Our gardening expert has the answers
A
s any gardener knows, we share our outdoor spaces with a vast array of creatures. This is mostly a wonderful and necessary thing. The majority of beasts are beneficial and ought to receive the warmest of welcomes. And given the biodiversity crisis, we must reconsider who we regard as a “pest”. Having said that, there are organisms whose presence can imperil our garden plans.
When I was studying the principles of growing food organically, I was taught a systems approach to dealing with so-called pests: choose your interventions carefully and opt for the least disruptive before considering more drastic measures.
Encouraging wildlife into your garden is the first step to limiting pest damage, as a balanced ecosystem will see naturally occurring predators manage the creatures that bother your plants. Alongside this, raising strong plants and ensuring the soil they’re growing in is healthy will result in a more resilient patch.
