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.

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

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 Spray

Spritz 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.

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.