Pests and weeds
Pests and weeds: slugs, moles and weeds, and what UK sources say works against them.
Growing and care
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How to get rid of moles in the garden
The RHS advises treating moles as part of your garden's wildlife where you can.
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How to get rid of slugs
Pick slugs off by torchlight on mild, damp evenings, set beer traps near vulnerable plants and empty them every morning.
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How to get rid of weeds
Hoe annual weeds on a warm, dry or windy day while they are small.
Common questions
How do I get rid of moles in my garden?
The RHS advises treating moles as part of your garden's biodiversity where possible. Remove molehills before mowing, fill collapsed tunnels and lay mole netting before new turf. Buzzing devices may simply move the mole elsewhere in the garden. More
How do I get rid of slugs naturally?
Pick them off by torchlight on mild, damp evenings, use beer traps and shelter traps, water in the morning and encourage predators such as frogs, toads, hedgehogs and birds. The RHS says slugs cannot and should not be eradicated, so target the plants they damage. More
How do I get rid of weeds without chemicals?
Hoe and hand weed annuals while small, dig out perennial roots with a fork, and cut back what you cannot dig. Smother bare ground with cardboard or a deep mulch. The RHS says patience and persistence can control almost all garden weeds this way, Japanese knotweed being the exception. More
In this section we use these sources: Royal Horticultural Society (RHS), The Wildlife Trusts, Worcestershire Wildlife Trust, Garden Organic. Each page lists its own sources at the bottom.