Slugs, snails and squirrels will leave plants alone if you make simple watering change

Keeping your garden free from pests can feel like a never-ending cycle. Slugs, snails and squirrels can all cause chaos in your outdoor space - and in the summer it can get even worse.

Warm, damp summer evenings create the perfect conditions for slugs and snails which love to feast on our vegetables, seedlings and young plants. In summer, squirrels are producing a second litter of babies and will be on the hunt for food. This means they can target your garden by digging up bulbs, or chewing on your garden furniture. Garden furniture experts at Chic Teak have shared their top tips for keeping your garden pest free and thriving.

Stop slugs and snails in the garden

To keep these pests from destroying your beloved plants, the first thing to change is your watering schedule. Slugs and snails are more active in the evening, so its a good idea to try and water plants in the morning instead.

Adding horticultural grit or crushed eggshells to your soil can also stop them. The ragged edges will be hard for them to crawl over and they are more likely to leave your plants alone.

You can also try to encourage natural predators into the garden - frogs, hedgehogs and birds all eat gastropods, so if you can create wildlife-friendly areas in the garden for them, you may be able to keep the issue at bay.

How to create a wildlife friendly space

To bring frogs and toads into your garden, consider building a small wildlife pond.Make sure it has a sloped edge so they can get in and out of the water. They will also appreciate damp, shaded spots in your garden such as pots turned on their sides or log piles near the water.

For birds, ensure there is a fresh water source such as a bird bath which is kept full and clean throughout the hot weather. This will encourage them to return and snack on your slugs and snails.

How to keep squirrels out

Squirrels may be cute but they can also cause a lot of damage to your garden and any furniture you have in it. In summer, they are seeking food, and this means digging around in your flowerbeds for bulbs and finding places to store food for the colder months.

In order to deter them, try covering your newly planted seedlings and bulbs with wire mesh beneath the soil to stop them getting through.

Its also a good idea to add stones or gravel to the top of containers to stop them from digging. Make sure you regularly sweep away any fallen seeds or nuts and position all your bird feeders away from any seating and garden beds to keep squirrels out.