UK Gardeners Urged To Place An Orange On Their Lawn

Orange in the gardenIt’s been a funny few weeks for gardening. First, the heatwave came, which meant less (or no) mowing, more alertness to drought, and even moving and inspecting your plant pots to avoid scorching. In some parts of the UK, thunderstorms are now expected (a welcome change for those fearful of a bone-dry lawn, but bad news for sunbathers). Rain or not, though, many of us are experiencing slug infestations as our gardens flourish and our veggies swell.But killing our slimy foes isn’t the answer. They’re a crucial food source for the UK bird population, which has been slashed by as much as 50% over the past 50 years.Instead, the Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) says, we should turn to the humble orange.How can an orange help?Slugs provide more than much-needed bird food; they’re a valuable composter too, and only a few species feed on live plants. However, when they do opt for a lawn-side lunch, they often go for young, tender seedlings, which often causes devastation for the plant.Still, the RHS say, slugs and snails “cannot and should not be eradicated.” Instead, the best tactic is to place strategic controls around the most delicate growth.That includes placing traps “such as [a] scooped-out half orange, grapefruit, or melon skins... near vulnerable plants.” Attracted to the citrus smell, the critters will become stuck in the bowl shape of the fruit (the bigger it is, the more likely the creatures are to stay put). You should check the grim goblet daily, ideally first thing in the morning, and move it far, far away from your most delicate plants.Any other tips? Yes! You can try replacing the fruit halves with submerged jars half-filled with beer, though this will kill the slugs and snails outright. As with the orange half, only do this in areas with delicate growth that could be severely harmed by the maligned molluscs. Cloches can help, as can attracting slugs’ natural predators (like hedgehogs and slow worms) to your garden.Avoid slug pellets. These can seriously harm your garden’s valuable biodiversity.Related...UK Gardeners Urged To Place A Pan Of Water On Their LawnUK Gardeners Urged To Check For Yellow Patches On GrassUK Gardeners Warned To Check For Footprints On Their Lawn

Comments

Breaking news

‘Worst car in history’ set for comeback with new makeover

Metro

Comments

Similar News

Farage addresses how Reform UK would deal with migration - but 'can't tell you the numbers right now'

UK's sunniest spot named with hours of sunshine every day - and it has royal approval

Strict ban across UK beaches that could land you with £1,000 fine… is YOUR nearest on the list?

Donald Trump to make flying visit to the UK TONIGHT with US president touching down in Air Force One

Stomach-churning truth about American beef set to flood UK supermarket shelves

Afghan gangster who trafficked children into the UK to be raped and blackmailed will be extradited to Belgium to serve 10 year jail sentence

UK Prime Minister Just Conceded Post-War Consensus on Migration as an Unalloyed Good Is Dead

Couple buy French village for €80k after growing tired of UK rat race

Seaside city is home to 'longest high street' in UK but not everyone loves it

Search for missing 'vulnerable' boy, 16, last seen on popular UK beach two days ago

Coachload of newly arrived Channel migrants mock Starmer's immigration crackdown: On the same day he vowed to 'take back control' and stop UK becoming 'island of strangers'

How many people come to work and study in the UK?

UK's 'sunniest' seaside town in May with 241 hours of sun and miles of beaches

UK drivers warned of new MOT rules that would follow European Union's lead

American gives verdict on UK Chinese food – but Brits say he's 'eating it wrong'

Kim Kardashian comes to Regent Street! Star's £3bn shapewear brand Skims set to open its first standalone UK store in old Ted Baker flagship

I love living in Dubai, reveals Jo Malone - as she admits she was 'disillusioned' by UK taxes and healthcare and praises 'most wonderful leader' Sheikh Mohammed

UK could become 'island of strangers', warns Starmer in immigration speech

Partially-sighted Scot to trek 3,200 miles across UK to help others facing vision loss

Keir Starmer pledges crackdown on immigration to UK but faces fierce opposition from SNP

Breaking news

‘Worst car in history’ set for comeback with new makeover

Entire London Underground network down after major power outage

Removal of high cholesterol problems, Patanjali’s medicine begins, claims in research

Labour must stop ignoring Brits over immigration or be punished heavily at the next election

What happened that Pakistan’s ‘stock market’ had to close after 60 minutes?

Virat Kohli Retirement: Virat Kohli lost so many crores after retiring from Test cricket

New York Times editor Joe Kahn defends publishing Trump story every half hour

Four charged after mum, 29, killed by falling bricks on building site as she dropped young son off at nursery

In the evening, if you do these 5 work in the house, there will be days of repentance

Image shows Mars 4 billion years ago revealing OCEAN world – and scientists say ‘lost’ sea may still be hiding on planet

Health Secretary Neil Gray to abstain on assisted dying Bill vote in Holyrood

Two new restaurants to open in Glasgow Airport as part of £3.7 million investment

Four charged after mum killed by falling bricks on her way to son’s nursery

Driver jailed for 22 years for chasing down and killing ‘showboating’ e-bike rider

Virginia Giuffre’s lawyer never thought Epstein accuser would take her own life

Woman found dead at Scots flat as police probe 'unexplained' death

Mum dies for 33 minutes during routine op and lives without pulse for 6 weeks

Little-known dangers of helium balloons after mum makes desperate plea over son's death

Gas explosion destroys home as family 'left with nothing'

Kate Forbes to vote against Assisted Dying but campaigners 'confident' of securing victory in landmark vote

Expert issues scam website alert for anyone who needs travel card

Be in the audience for BBC Scotland's Debate Night political discussion show in Dumfries

Decision on partial Kirkcudbright Bridge re-opening expected by May 16

School pay tribute to 'one in a million' ex-teaching assistant found dead in Glasgow home

Woman slams parents for 'embarrassing' name with nickname she 'hates even more'

Husband caught cheating on pregnant wife with her mum - and he fathered her siblings

Couple buy French village for €80k after growing tired of UK rat race

Police search for teenager last seen on beach in swim shorts

What are Sir Keir Starmer's new immigration rules?

Driver who murdered e-bike rider to 'teach him a lesson' is jailed

Why Trump blinked in US-China trade war

Crossbow attack suspect died from 'self-inflicted gunshot', inquest hears

Beyoncé Cowboy Carter tour reviews call concerts 'masterwork' and 'powerful'

Search for missing 'vulnerable' boy, 16, last seen on popular UK beach two days ago

Brits urged to leave loft hatch open for next 11 days as 'mini-heatwave' hits

Cardiologist shares five ways to cut your heart attack risk - and they are all free

James Bulger killer Jon Venables goes for parole AGAIN and may be free by end of year

Cyclist murdered by driver who rammed him for showing off and pulling wheelie

Clubber who killed 'hero' dad by punching him outside nightclub jailed for manslaughter

Do you support Keir Starmer's crackdown on immigration? Take our poll and have your say

Feed lavender four kitchen scraps to make it 'flower more' this summer

One in four Brits have eaten the same snacks for more than a decade

Brit, 18, fighting for life after falling from third-floor Ibiza apartment

Moment chaos breaks out on flight as passenger opens emergency exit 'to get some air'

Hounslow fire: Smoke billows into sky as fire crews tackle house blaze

Kate Middleton hugs William and issues heartfelt message in deeply personal new video

Seaside city is home to 'longest high street' in UK but not everyone loves it

Wearers ‘always get so many compliments’ on Michael Kors fragrance now axed to half-price

The ONE alternative treatment that brought my autistic son back to me: Desperate, I spent $70,000 trying every 'fix' I could find. Right as I was about to give up, he said words that brought me to tears

Brothers and sister of £18million health drinks tycoon win bid to battle his Maltese lover for a share of his fortune

Bridgerton's Luke Newton packs on the PDA with stunning girlfriend Antonia Roumelioti as they exit the TV BAFTA Awards - days after making their romance Instagram official

SHANE WATSON: I'm a fashion expert. This is the anti-ageing £22.99 H&M dress that EVERY 50-something woman needs this summer

DR MAX PEMBERTON: My four crucial tips to fix a family fall-out that David and Victoria Beckham MUST follow

My brother was bludgeoned to death by his new wife and her FBI agent father - she tormented her stepchildren with lies about their dad before she killed him

How Marisa Abela revived her career after THAT Amy Winehouse biopic: Industry actress came back from cancer and faced lousy reviews before beating huge names to storm the BAFTAs

The truth behind photo of Volodymyr Zelensky as people think he 'wore his trousers backwards'

Brit, 18, is fighting for life after falling from third-floor apartment in Ibiza