Slugs in retreat: How planting rue can save your garden

Fighting slugs can be frustrating. Fortunately, there is a natural and effective solution to discourage them from entering our garden: simply plant a species they particularly dislike.

Every gardener knows this problem: slugs destroying carefully tended plants. These molluscs will devour everything they encounter, from young stems to fruits or lettuce leaves. Their diet primarily consists of shoots, plant stems, and small insects, making gardens an ideal environment for them, and they are reluctant to leave.

Plant rue and the slugs will avoid your plot entirely. This way, you will protect your garden from pests and enrich it with a beautiful and useful plant.

Ruta graveolens, or garden rue, is a perennial herb native to the Mediterranean region. Herbalists love its characteristic musky scent, which effectively repels many pests, including slugs. The intense aroma makes them avoid this place entirely.

You can recognize it by its yellow-green flowers. They bloom from June until the end of July. Sometimes, you can see a bluish coating on their tops.

Growing garden rue is simple and does not require any specialized gardening knowledge. It thrives best in full sun but also tolerates light shade.

Rue is an undemanding plant. It doesn't need frequent watering or fertilizing. However, remember to protect it in winter by covering it with straw or dry peat to prevent it from freezing.

Another plant that effectively repels slugs is Aquilegia vulgaris. This plant contains substances that pests do not like.

However, remember that Aquilegias are poisonous. Their consumption can cause diarrhoea, fainting, or intoxication. So, use caution when planting and cultivating them.

Aquilegia vulgaris, like garden rue, is not a demanding plant. It's best to plant it in semi-shaded or sunny locations. It also does not need regular watering (occasional watering during extended dry periods is sufficient). It is frost-resistant and does not require additional winter covering.