Issue 18Garlic Wards Off More Than Vampires

Garlic's legendary health attributes as a powerful antioxidant and mineral-rich nutrient are 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, garlic can be used not only as an ingredient in our kitchens and medicine cabinets, but in our gardens as a deterrent against slugs, snails, and other pests.
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This spray will be an effective repellant without causing damage to your plants, and as garlic is non-toxic, it will not harm other animals in the ecosystem.
Here's how to use garlic to make a homemade, non-toxic pesticide and natural repellent using two different methods.
Garlic Gardening Spray
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Cold Water Method

Peel the cloves from a whole head of garlic and put in a food processor or blender with 235ml of water, and purée. Alternatively, chop or crush the cloves as finely as you can by hand and mix well with the water.

Add a further 700ml of water to the mix, along with 30ml of any liquid soap. Blend again and then transfer to a clean jar.

Leave the mixture to steep overnight for at least 12 hours, so that the garlic can infuse the liquid with its potent sulphur compounds, then strain it through a muslin cloth or fine mesh strainer to remove the solid garlic pieces which would otherwise clog the nozzle on your spray bottle.

Pour the garlic-infused liquid into a reusable spray bottle and store in the fridge between uses.

Hot Water Method

Take two full bulbs of garlic and add them to a saucepan containing two litres of water.

Boil gently until soft and then use a fork to squash the bulbs down, releasing as much of the garlic and juice as possible.

Pour the solution through a sieve to remove the skins.

Then dilute this solution by adding 2-3 tablespoons to five litres of water when ready to use.

How to Use a Garlic SpraySpritz plants which slugs like in the evening before they make their stealth attack, holding the spray about 15-30cm away from the foliage, and cover both sides of the leaves with an even coating of the garlic pesticide spray.
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Reapply every few days, and after any rainfall, as a deterrent.
A home-made garlic spray can be a low-cost, effective deterrent against slugs, snails, and other pests from your plants, but remember to spray your plants regularly. ScotlandGrowsIssue18NavigationEditor's WelcomeContentsScone Palace Garden Fair Show Guide 2023Scone Palace Garden Fair TicketsWelcome to Scone Palace Garden Fair 2023What You Need To KnowQuercus Garden PlantsWhat's On at Scone Palace Garden FairScone Palace Garden Fair Speakers ProgrammeScone Palace Exhibitor List 2023Hortiwool advertScottish Garden Design CompetitionScotland Grows ShowPallet and Planter ChallengeScotland Grows SubscriptionBiophilia – Our Innate Connection to NatureLynn Hill at Scone PalaceWhat's Gorgeous in the Garden?Grow Your BusinessDesigning for a Shady AreaGreen Thumb Share the Lawn LovePlanting for PollinatorsThriving Roses in the Land of ThistlesBlank Canvas DreamsFeature Your GardenRebels Without A CareScotland Grows TestimonialHoliday Proof Your GardenGarlic Wards Off More Than VampiresScotland Grows websiteFuss-free Feathery PlumesImprove Mental Health in the GardenWhat We Have Learned from a Lifetime of GardeningTop 3 Plant ChoicesScotland Grows Show PodcastAn Industry with Huge PotentialCome and Chat About PlantsPerfect Strawberries for ScotlandScotland Grows HoodiesHow Can You Avoid Watering Your Plot?Speedy Salad LeavesThe Indonesian CookGrow Your Own Chamomile TeaCommunal Garden ConnectionsIf You Can't Beat Them, Eat Them!Scotland Grows TestimonialGardening and Autism BookClayton's New Gardening JourneyTop Terrarium Tips for BeginnersTerrarium WorkshopReturning to Gardening After IllnessSubscribe to Scotland GrowsJobs AheadPerthshire MagazineThe Last WordArchives