The DIY spray to keep slugs and snails out of your garden using leftover vegetables – it's ready in four easy steps
And the conditions also make it a nightmare in other respects - it's perfect for garden pests.
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Hot, wet weather creates ideal conditions for slugs and snails who like warmer, wetter periods.
But experts say if these slimy creatures are having a field day, munching on your greenery, there are easy and cheap ways to keep them at bay.
And one method involves using your leftover mushrooms.
Mushrooms might not be the first thing that comes to mind when it comes to protecting your garden from pests, but certain fungi naturally target pests, including slugs, snails and aphids - without the need for harmful chemicals.
Expert Waine Delaney at SporeBuddies says you can even make your own mushroom pest repellent to promote a healthier and more resilient garden ecosystem.
The fungi aficionado said: "Mushrooms growing in the garden is usually a good sign - it means that your soil is healthy and rich in organic matter - and if you have entomopathogenic mushrooms, it can be even better.
"Entomo' meaning insect, and pathogenic' meaning causing disease; this kind of fungi kills insects biologically, rather than poisoning them with a chemical pesticide. The fungus produces microscopic spores that land on the insect, germinate, grow, and consume the insect from within."
They are particularly effective against pests such as aphids, whiteflies, caterpillars and beetle larvae
Though they are able to control some pests, they do not harm insects that are beneficial – such as bees, butterflies, or ladybirds – and they are completely safe for humans, pets and birds.
You can often buy this kind of fungi from garden centres and online, in liquid and powder form.
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But what about the mushrooms you already have in the fridge?
Many edible mushrooms, like shiitake and oyster, contain certain bioactive compounds that are antifungal and insect-repelling.
They also contain enzymes and bitter tasting compounds that repel pests like slugs and snails.
When sprayed onto a plants surface and the surrounding soil, the surface residue and unfamiliar scent confuses them, and signals that the plant is inedible
Here Waine explains what mushrooms have the best repellent qualities:
Oyster mushrooms – good for slugs, snails, aphids and greenfly
He says: "The taste naturally repels snails and slugs.
"It contain enzymes and toxins that can digest soft-bodied pests and small insects."
Shiitake mushrooms – good for caterpillars, aphids and greenfly
Waine explains: "The lentinan and phenolic compounds, that they are rich in, deters insects from feeding on the plants.
"They discourage insects from settling due to their antimicrobial properties."
MAKE YOUR OWN MUSHROOM PEST REPELLENT
HERE is the expert's guide to making the eco-friendly repellent:
Place your mushrooms in a blender or food processor with water, and blend until you get a smooth mixture.
Strain the mixture through a cheesecloth or fine mesh strainer into a jug to remove any remaining large chunks that could block the spray. You can also increase the pest-repelling by adding things like peppermint oil, rosemary, garlic extract or neem oil.
Carefully pour your mixture into a spray bottle and add more water if required.
Shake well before each use and spray directly onto the leaves – not forgetting the underside - stems, and around the base of your plants. Reapply every few days, and after rain.
Button or white mushrooms – good for greenfly and aphids
Waine said: "These are a milder deterrent than oyster and shiitake, but still contain volatile compounds and polysaccharides to keep pests away.
"They are best to use as a filler or base in homemade sprays, alongside other mushrooms."
King oyster mushrooms – good for slugs and snails
The expert says: "The strong scent and fibrous structure repels molluscs like slugs and snails.
"They also repel other soft-bodied pests because of nematode-trapping toxins."
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