Garlic is one of the most common ingredients in households across the UK
Gardeners can sprinkle garlic on their lawns this summer(Image: Alex Evans)
Garlic, a divisive ingredient in the culinary world, has an unexpected application beyond the kitchen and even outside the home.
Certain green-fingered enthusiasts swear by garlic powder as a year-round pest deterrent in their gardens. The aromatic cloves of this vegetable, typically used to season food, have been scientifically validated as effective pest repellents in your garden.
They are particularly potent against slugs and aphids, two of the most persistent and destructive pests that gardeners grapple with.
As any seasoned gardener can attest, slugs will voraciously consume almost anything that sprouts, including tomato, potato, raspberry and strawberry plants, along with their leaves and fruit. Aphids, on the other hand, reproduce rapidly and sap the vitality from plants by draining nutrients from their stalks.
This leaves strawberries, raspberries and other popular plants wilting, devoid of the essential elements they require for growth and fruiting, reports the Express.
The Garlic Farm suggests that garlic can be converted into a garden spray that combats both of these common garden intruders.
They state: “We all love garlic for its unique flavour and ability to transform everything it’s paired with – after all, what would garlic bread, pesto or spaghetti bolognese be without this key ingredient? ! Garlic’s legendary health attributes as a powerful antioxidant and mineral-rich food are also well documented.
“But its sulphurous compounds have another, less obvious but just as useful benefit: they can act as a natural repellent for many common insects. By harnessing this helpful side-effect, we can use garlic not only as an ingredient in our kitchens, but also in our medicine cabinets and gardening sheds.
“Use this simple garlic repellent to deter garden pests like aphids and slugs. It can also help eliminate powdery mildew on foliage.”
The method involves peeling the cloves from an entire garlic bulb and blending with 235ml of water. Next, either purée the mixture or finely chop the cloves by hand before combining thoroughly. Incorporate an additional 700ml of water along with 30ml of liquid soap, then allow the solution to settle overnight.
When prepared, filter the mixture using a muslin cloth or fine mesh strainer before applying to plants, grass areas, and other pest-affected zones during evening hours. Apply nightly or following each bout of rain, and you may finally banish those troublesome infestations.
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