Deirdre O Meara 
Dog Hair: The Secret to Protecting Your Garden from Slugs and Snails
Gardeners across the UK are raving about a free and eco-friendly hack that can protect your plants from slugs and snails. Forget about using pellets, eggshells, or salt to keep pests at bay. The secret to saving your precious plants might just be your furry companion.
According to several vegetable gardeners, dog hair is the perfect repellent for pesky slugs and snails. Jacqueline Mann, a member of the Facebook group Veg Gardening UK, shared her experience: “Dog hair. It really works. I guess any hair works but we have dog floof in abundance. Plus, the little birds come and take it for their nests. Just put dog hair down as a ‘mulch’ and the slimers seem to roll on by.”
Karen Adams, another member of the group, added: “Snails don’t like going over dog hair so it stops them getting to the plants”. The most common suggestion was to create a ring of dog hair around the stem of your plants. If any slimers get caught in the hair, you can dispose of it and put a fresh ring down.
This hack mimics the traditional method of ringing lamb wool around plants to stop slugs and snails from getting to them – except it’s free and easier to get your hands on. Gardeners are turning their backs on slug pellets due to the knock-on effect they have on other wildlife. Aaron Devlin urged: “For the love of God, please do not use slug pellets. You will kill every hedgehog in the area. Whatever eats the dead hedgehogs will also get poisoned.”
Jenny Fleming echoed this sentiment: “Slug pellets are not good for other wildlife that eat the slugs.” By using dog hair, gardeners can protect their plants without harming other creatures in the process.
It’s important to note that this hack should only be done using dog hair that has naturally come out either through moulting or brushing. Fans of the dog hair trick stressed that it should not be done using hair that has been cut or shaved off.
The idea of using dog hair as a slug and snail repellent has gained popularity among eco-conscious gardeners who want to protect their plants without harming other creatures. In addition to being free and easy to obtain, it’s also a sustainable solution that repurposes a material that would otherwise go to waste.
Other eco-friendly methods of protecting your plants from slugs and snails include using coffee grounds, eggshells, and a beer trap. These methods are also free from harmful chemicals and can be easily incorporated into your gardening routine.
As more people become aware of the impact of pesticides and harmful chemicals on the environment, eco-friendly gardening practices are gaining popularity. By using natural and sustainable solutions to protect their plants, gardeners can create a healthier and more vibrant ecosystem in their own backyard.
In conclusion, the use of dog hair as a slug and snail repellent is a free and eco-friendly hack that has gained popularity among gardeners in the UK. By using natural and sustainable solutions to protect their plants, gardeners can create a healthier and more vibrant ecosystem in their own backyard.
