Slugs in the Garden
They Are Hermaphrodites!
Slugs in the garden can kill your plants. They are hermaprodites -- they can reproduce without mating -- and lay up to three dozen eggs several times a year. They hatch in two to four weeks and reach adulthood in about six weeks. Some species can live up to four years..Their appetites grow as they mature. If you see small piles of transparent jelly-looking like tiny eggs, destroy them. These eggs are very resistant to cold; they can overwinter. The adults find protection in the ground.
Destroying Garden Slugs Organically
- Ammonia – mix one part of ammonia to six parts of water in a spray bottle. This solution should be gentle enough not to burn foliage. Test it in doubt. Spray the garden slugs. Check back in about five to ten minutes.
- Beer – the slugs love the barley and yeast in the beer. Dig a hole about six inches deep where there is much slug activity. Bury a plastic cup in the hole. Fill the cup a little over three quarters of beer. Check the cup daily so that you can empty out the slugs. Refill as needed. You can also use just yeast: one teaspoon yeast to three ounces of water.
- Cornmeal –put about an eighth of a cup of cornmeal in an open jar and place it on its side. where there is much slug activity The garden slugs will eat them and die. Empty the jar and refill as needed. Oat bran will also do the trick.
- Flat boards, damp newspapers, etc. (slug traps) –check underneath very often, especially if you have abundant slug activities. Destroy the slugs. You should have enough traps for the entire garden. Slug traps are also available at garden centers.
- Natural Enemies – you can enlist ducks, geese, toads, snakes, etc. They like to dine on garden slugs. Drawback: these natural enemies can damage young plants.
Organic Prevention
- Cedar barks – dehydrate garden slugs
- Copper strips – place in a circle around the plant. The strips dry up the garden slugs. Copper strips may be available in your local garden center.
- Dirt Clods – turn the soil regularly to unearth any slugs that are burrowed in the ground
- Egg shells – break and place in a circle around the plant
- Pine Needle Mulch – the acidic mulch will deter the slugs as they prefer alkaline soil
- Salt – this will dry up the garden slugs but will ruin the soil for the plants. Spread the salt where it does not touch the soil, if you want to place there the slugs you have collected. Be sure to discard the dead ones.
- Sand (playground quality) – must be distributed generously around the young plants in the early spring. The sand rips open the garden slugs’ bellies causing them to die.
Garden Slug Havens
Slugs make home of about anything in the garden. The best prevention is to keep your garden beds clean and free of debris including rocks, boards, etc. Slugs love decaying matter and shaded areas that are cluttered and weedy. Weeds are always potential outposts for slugs.
Before you consider chemical control of garden slugs, remember that your pets can also be harmed by these poisons and become quite ill. Use chemicals precisely according to directions.
Have you tried organic pellets for slugs in the garden?
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