Gardeners are being urged to place cucumbers in their gardens this summer—but not for the reason you might think. While most use cucumbers for compost heaps, garden specialists have uncovered a surprising new use for this common salad item. Gardening expert Chris Bonnett at GardeningExpress.co.uk has revealed that the kitchen cupboard staple can help repel pests and protect your garden from damage.

The expert shared: "As a gardener, it can be really disheartening when pests come along and ruin your plants that you’ve spent months and months looking after, so it’s really important to do what you can to protect them.Keeping pests away from the garden doesn’t have to be a massive job, and it can be done with items that you already have at home." 

Chris went on to add, "It’s not time-consuming at all, either, and you’ll only need to repeat the jobs around once a week, if that! It’s definitely worth it if you want to prevent pests from ruining your garden."

How it works

There are several factors that determine how cucumbers can deter bugs, but it is mainly due to taste and smell. Chris shared: "Cucumber peels can be effective at deterring ants and aphids thanks to their bitterness and scent.

"Simply scatter the fresh peels around any garden edges." Another way to use cucumbers is to place slices on aluminium trays. 

Cucumbers contain compounds that attract slugs and snails, but when paired with aluminium trays, they release a chemical reaction that emits a scent repelling these pests, reported the Grow Organic.

Pests repelled by cucumbers

The Western Exterminator company shared five pests that hate cucumbers.

1. Ants– these pests hate the bitter peel and strong scent of cucumber.

2. Aphids– Some gardeners have reported that cucumbers can help deter these bugs due to their bitter compounds and scent.

3. Mites– they dislike cucumbers' natural bitterness and acidity.

4. Wasps– these pests find the scent of cucumbers unpleasant.

5. Silverfish– these moisture-loving insects dislike the acidic and bitter qualities of cucumber peels.

Other natural methods to deter garden pests

Chris also mentioned that using washing-up liquid can be an effective way of keeping aphids away from plants. "Simply mix together a couple of teaspoons of washing-up liquid with some water and spray onto plants.

"Try to do this in the early morning or late afternoon to prevent the sun from burning your leaves."

Another kitchen staple that can deter pests is coffee grounds. By scattering coffee grounds around your plants and garden beds, slugs and snails will be kept at bay.

The strong aroma acts as a natural repellent, while the gritty texture makes it difficult and uncomfortable for these pests to move across. As an added benefit, coffee grounds can also boost soil health by adding nutrients and improving structure.