A gardening expert has shared a simple hack to keep slugs at bay in your garden – and all you need is a few cloves of garlic and a spray bottle. Here’s how to make the repellent
Katie-Ann Gupwell Content Editor
04:00, 01 Nov 2025
You may want to get some garlic (stock image)(Image: Sphoto via Getty Images)
Though we might be spending less time outdoors as the winter months approach, there are several tasks you’ll want to complete outside before closing the doors for good, and one of them involves placing garlic in your garden. You might not be aware, but the humble bulb serves a rather clever purpose, as it could genuinely work wonders around your property.
What you may not realise is that it’s sensible to pop some in your garden, and there’s a simple reason why. As the colder months arrive, it could help protect your plants, though it’s not as simple as merely scattering some across the lawn.
It’s not the first rather unusual item Britons have been encouraged to place in their gardens recently either. Previously, people were also urged to position cardboard toilet rolls outside as well.
Ish, known as gardening.with.ish on TikTok, shares plenty of helpful gardening tips. He recently revealed why garlic is so essential to work with in November.
According to him, slugs can prove a real headache during wet weather. However, by using garlic, you could help repel them and protect your plants, reports the Mirror.
Ish explained: “Today in the garden, I’m going to show you how to rid those slugs off your plants with a spray bottle and some garlic. That’s right, today I’m making a garlic spray, and this is my last minute defence against slugs because used coffee grounds and egg shells are a fantastic way to keep them off the ground and away from your plants.
“But, what about some of those leaves that are close to the ground that they can reach up to? Well, garlic spray has a very interesting ingredient that makes the plant taste absolutely disgusting and, as a result, not only will they stay away from [them], but they won’t eat them either.”
To create your own spray, he explained you need to take around 200ml of water and add three or four crushed cloves of garlic.
Ish advised leaving the mixture to steep for about a day or two.
Then, dilute it with more water (around a litre), and there you have it, your spray is prepared.
Just remember to filter it before applying it to your plants.
Pour it into a spray bottle and gently spritz it over your plants.
Ish recommended doing this weekly or so, concentrating particularly on plants that are susceptible to slugs.
Why does garlic spray repel slugs?
You might be amazed to discover that garlic spray can successfully ward off slugs.
The deterrent effect stems from allicin, a sulphur compound that develops when garlic is crushed or boiled.
The powerful scent and flavour of this compound is despised by slugs and snails, so they’ll avoid sprayed plants.
It’s a simple method to protect your plants when the weather becomes wet, and slugs become more common.
They tend to be more active when the weather is moist, as they hunt for food and lay eggs.
Whilst rain itself is helpful, slugs tend to appear after rain rather than during heavy downpours, as this can be dangerous for them. To ensure the spray works to its full potential, it’s advised to reapply after any rain.
Ish also highlighted the need to dilute the solution to avoid causing damage to your plants.
That’s why he recommends topping up the solution to about a litre once it has settled. Specialists suggest that the best time to apply it is in the evening.
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