A natural nemesis for slugs

Last year’s wet spring brought an explosion of slugs out of hiding and into Ursula Buchan’s vegetable beds. Fortunately, this season she has an eco-friendly ace up her sleeve

- Ursula Buchan

At THIS time of the year in the garden, I feel like Ratty reciting his picnic to Mole in The Wind in the Willows: ‘There’s cold chicken inside it,’ replied the Rat briefly; ‘coldtonguecoldhamcoldbeefpickledgherkinssaladfrenchrollscresssandwichespottedmeatgingerbeerlemonadesodawater...’ Except, in my case, it’s ‘takesoftwoodcuttingsdivideperennialsweedandmulchborderssowhalfhardyannualsplantvegetablesdeadheaddaffodilstransplantautumnsownsweetpeas...’ I could go on – and on. Truth is, I need strong resolve to get the best out of the early spring and set up the garden for a successful and satisfactory season.

Time was when I freewheeled through the spring, relying on past experience and a careful eye to ensure that important tasks were not delayed or ignored. No longer. These days, I know that I must plan my gardening with some precision to accommodate a memory that can sometimes mislead, a body that can no longer work 10 hours a day and a style of life that can get in the way of the litany of ‘jobs’.