If you spot ragged holes on the edges of your leaves, slugs might have paid your garden a visit! Over the past few years, I have also dealt with slugs in my yard. I found at least twenty of them on my plants every day!
Just when I was losing hope, a little bird landed on my lawn and started eating slugs. In a few weeks, my garden became their favorite spot, and the best part was that slugs were nowhere to be found, even outside the yard where my fruit trees grow!
Birds such as blackbirds, thrushes, starlings, and robins love to feed on these pests, making them great for controlling slugs in your garden! You’ll just need to attract them to your yard, and with these tricks, it will be the easiest thing to do!
#1 Try Planting Birds’ Favorite Fruits In The Garden
One of the easiest ways to attract birds is by planting shrubs, plants, or bushes. Anything with berries can pass the test! You can start by planting blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, apples, holly, or cherries.
I plant one row of raspberries just for them, and I think I need to grow even more because, as the days pass, more birds are coming in search of delicious fruits! You can get rid of slugs just by planting these amazing berries.
On the other hand, if your garden isn’t big enough for growing these fruits, you should use a bird feeder! Add some seeds and different kinds of berries, and let the party begin!
#2 Add A Birdbath Near Your Plants For Surprising Results
Adding a birdbath won’t only benefit you but also the little birds! They need water to drink, refresh themselves, and stay clean, especially in the summer. So, if birds spot one in your garden, they will start visiting daily! This can mean only one thing – no more slugs!
One piece of advice I can give you is to take good care of your birdbath. You’ll need to keep it clean and tidy throughout the entire season so mold doesn’t appear!
#3 Create Nesting Habitats For Birds And Their Little Babies
If you have lots of bushes or hedgerows, birds will have potential nesting spots! That’s perfect for controlling slugs in your garden, as birds will stay every day. Later, when the babies come, they will start catching slugs and feeding them to their little ones!
You should leave nesting materials in the yard, such as straw, yarn, or string. These materials can be handy for the birds to use and build their own little homes in your garden!
#4 Make Your Garden Safe For Visiting Birds With A Shelter
The last thing you’ll need to do is make or buy a wooden house for birds! This will keep them safe from larger predators, including cats.
I made a pretty big bird box for my trees, and it’s never empty! Every day, there are at least three birds that stop by and explore that big box in the tree. If you also want to enjoy their beautiful melodies and keep your plants safe from slugs, you should consider making one too!
Isn’t it great that you can drive away all the slugs from your garden without using strong chemicals? Luckily, we have birds that save our gardens from pests that try to ruin our plants, crops, or fruits!
These tricks will successfully attract every bird in your area! As the weeks pass, you’ll see that there won’t be a trace of slugs, and birds will visit your garden in bigger groups.
All the hard work you’ve put in throughout the seasons growing all those amazing plants won’t go to waste thanks to birds! Come on now, you’ve got lots of work to do!
Good luck!