If you’re looking for a harmless way to get rid of slugs and snails from your garden, there’s one unexpected item that could help. It’s a quick and affordable hack for a common pest problem and you might already have this kitchen staple at home.

According to Farm Flavour, cayenne pepper could be an easy way to ward off pests. Cayenne is a spice commonly used in the kitchen. It is often added to breakfast omelettes or scrambled eggs to give them a bit of a kick. Farm Flavour says: “Anyone with a garden knows pests can devastate anything and everything in no time at all. 

“Rather than reaching for the latest and greatest chemical invention at the hardware store, consider using a little cayenne pepper to keep those pesky critters away.”

It says that cayenne won’t harm your plants, but it will keep unwanted animals and bugs from munching on all your hard work. 

Farm Flavour continues: “All you need to do is sprinkle a quarter cup throughout your garden every few days and you’ll begin to see healthier plants without chewed-up leaves and half-eaten fruit.”

But this isn’t the only useful and affordable hack it suggests.

If you missed another hack we reported earlier this month, do not fear. Another useful tip to ward off pests is to plant plastic forks to deter critters.

You might have an unused box of plastic forks that you brought for hosting some guests that have been lying dormant, but now they could have a purpose.

Farm Flavour says: “Placing forks in the soil around your plants will discourage animals like raccoons, cats, squirrels and deer from wandering into the garden and helping themselves to your crops.”

Gardens attract a variety of wildlife, from bees and birds to less welcome animals or other pests such as aphids, slugs and snails.

Some pests, in large numbers, can damage our plants by eating leaves and flower buds, which can distort new growth but it's important to remember that these are an important part of the ecosystem. 

By following these simple tips and utilising household items that you might already have lying around, you can ensure to keep pests away from your garden without using any harmful chemicals.