Gardeners are being urged to put garlic in their gardens for one peculiar reason. Certain pests can be a godsend for the garden, like the green cellar slug, which mulches up compost and snacks on things like mould and algae to keep the ecosystem in check.

But too much of a good thing can wreak havoc on vegetable patches or flowerbeds, especially during wetter days, which are forecast this month. So this eco-friendly solution helps ward off unwanted visitors that might otherwise munch through the roses, or snack on sprouting vegetables. The strong smell of garlic helps ward off slugs and snails, without using poisonous slug pellets and causing potential damage to the wildlife.

The non-toxic method means you get more control over the garden too - if you suddenly need slugs to make a comeback, simply remove the garlic, without dealing with harsh pellets.

The Greenside Up horticulture blog revealed that slugs don’t like the smell, and it suggested crushing a clove of garlic and adding it to a watering can, which can be sprinkled over the worst-affected areas. 

One reader, Simon Jennings, added that his homemade weed killer, which uses nettle and seaweed tea with some garlic, worked as a deterrent when applied to paths.

Although the reader said his spray was more designed for caterpillars, the blog writer responded that it would "work a treat" on the paths and edges.

Another commenter replied: "We also plant a lot of garlic and use the coffee grounds – these methods combined keep us slug free."

Coffee grounds also help deter slugs and snails, and they make a great addition to compost heaps too. Coffee shops or supermarkets with coffee machines often give away used grounds for free.