10 Plants Slugs Hate

It is not a great sight to stroll in your garden to discover holes in your plants. The main culprit is you going to be slugs. Slugs are slimy pests that come out during the night or when it is shady. But are there plants slugs hate? Or do they eat all plants?

There are some plants that slugs hate including ferns, wormwood, snapdragons and geraniums.

The plants which slugs love to eat are soft and have lots of leaves. Therefore, it is important to avoid such plants.

Instead, it would be best if you looked to grow plants that do not have pleasant textures. Slugs glide on plants, and growing plants with bristles or a waxy coating will discourage them. Plants that have strong smells also keep slugs away. 

So, What Plants Do Slugs Hate?

When you grow new plants, the seedlings and leaves attract slugs. Therefore, it is essential to protect your plants and grow the ones that deter slugs. Here are some plants which slugs hate:

Fern Plants 

Fern plants are a good choice, especially if you are a beginner at gardening. Fern plants are low-maintenance and get the job done when it comes to deterring slugs.

Slugs do not like fern plants because the leaves are thick, and they cannot digest them. There are different kinds of ferns you can grow in your garden. To grow ferns, you need soil that is well-drained but can be grown in shade or dappled sunlight. 

Hydrangeas

Hydrangeas will not only add to the beauty of your garden but also repel slugs.

You can create a barrier from hydrangeas to protect your more vulnerable plants. Hydrangeas come in beautiful colours including blue, white, and pink. These flowers do require a lot of care. They need lots of water, drainage, pruning and dead-heading.  

Wormwood

Another plant that slugs do not like is wormwood. Wormwood is a good garden choice and is a tall plant used for edging. It is the plant’s strong smell that repels slugs. 

Snapdragons

Snapdragons are colourful plants that add to the beauty of gardens and prevent pests like slugs. Snapdragons are tall plants with colourful flowers adding both vibrancy and height to borders.

To grow snapdragons in your garden, you need to have a decent amount of sunlight. They may also need staking if in an open, windy border.

Begonias 

With flowers like begonias, you have the option to choose between a staggering 1,800 different varieties. Begonias are also a good option for beginners. To grow these flowers, you need a moist and warm climate. 

In addition to resisting slugs, begonias are hardy plants and remain safe from any damage. If slugs do attack begonias, the foliage replenishes quickly. Begonias grow fast, filling every gap in garden borders, protecting it from slugs. 

You can get mature plants from nurseries if you do not have the right garden environment for begonias. The plants are cheap, and you can use them in a flower bed, borders, baskets and pots.

Holly Leaves 

Holly leaves might usually be associated with Christmas but they are also hated by slugs. The leaves are dark with sharp edges. Holly leaves repel slugs because of the spiny texture, which makes it uncomfortable for them to glide on.

The leaves are also reported to contain poison which harms the slugs. 

It is important to know that the poison found in leaves is harmful to pets and humans too. Therefore, if you plan on growing this plant, you must steer clear of the leaves. The poison can cause nausea, diarrhoea and vomiting. 

Instead of growing this plant, you can also utilize the leaves by placing them on the soil to repel slugs. To avoid harm, you must wear gloves when dealing with holly leaves.

Jacob’s Ladder

Jacob’s ladder is a perennial which repels slugs. This tall plant comes with flowers of different shades like lavender, blue and purple. 

Slugs avoid this plant because it is not easy for them to crawl on the stem. Therefore, slugs cannot climb high enough to feed on the leaves. The flowers on the plant will give your garden a nice aesthetic, along with repelling slugs. 

Rosemary 

Rosemary not only makes a good addition to food, but you can also use it in your garden to deter slugs.

A rosemary bush is quite fragrant, which is effective in dealing with molluscs like slugs and snails. You can also harvest rosemary for yourself to make a spray deterrent for your garden. 

Lavender

Many gardeners like to grow lavender because it repels a variety of garden pests. The smell of lavender is strong enough to repel snails and slugs. 

Geraniums

Geraniums are hairy plants, which make it difficult for slugs to climb. You get to choose from various species of geraniums, so you can select the one that suits you the most. Geraniums are also a good choice because they are low-maintenance. 

Bedding geraniums are not slug repellent though. We are referring to the cranesbill perennial forms.

Summary 

Slugs are quite damaging to gardens despite their size. You can use baits and traps for slugs, but they only work short-term.

A good way to deal with slugs is to grow plants in your garden which they hate. Slugs do not like plants that have a rough surface and strong scents.

Some of the plants which slugs hate include geraniums, rosemary, lavender, Jacob’s ladder, holly leaves, and begonias. You can create a barrier with these plants to protect the more vulnerable ones.