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The secret to deterring pests from your garden could be hiding in your fruit bowl

By Rachael Gavin|

All gardeners know the pain of planting beautiful flowers and fresh produce only for their plants to be attacked by pests like aphids and slugs.

Deterring these annoying bugs from the get go is the best way to prevent damage, and all you need to do according to one TikToker, is save your orange peels.

A keen gardener, who posts plant updates and hacks on the channel @theashtonhomestead, said there are a couple of reasons she likes to use orange peels to deter pests.

"They contain a natural insecticide called delimonine which can help repel aphids, slugs, mosquitos and white flies. It's even been known to keep out furry critters, including our pets: cats and dogs," she said.

TikTok gardening hack orange peels pests aphids slugs bugs insects
Next time you peel an orange, chop up the peel and sprinkle in your garden. (TikTok)

The Ashton Homestead's followers loved the tip, especially those who have been looking for a chemical free option to control pests.

"I needed this and spent all day trying to find something natural," one commented.

"The slugs eat my orange peels in the garden [which] helps me find them faster, pretty crazy," another said.

TikTok gardening hack orange peels pests aphids slugs bugs insects
It's easier to prevent pests from the garden than deal with the damage they cause. (TikTok)

Some viewers asked about whether the orange peels attracted ants, but The Ashton Homestead is already using and having good success with cinnamon to repel ants.

The orange peel hack isn't entirely perfect though.

A few followers mentioned their dogs love getting stuck into orange trees, while others explained that citrus can be toxic to cats and dogs.

And gardening expert Calum Maddock from HomeHow told GardeningEtc that while the orange peel hack does deter bad bugs, it also prevents beneficial bugs too. This doesn't mean you can't use it, but you might want to be selective with which plants or garden beds you use it in.

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