Experts share how eliminate slugs without using chemicals.
Slugs can also spread diseases among plants.
Luckily, there are natural, chemical-free ways to eliminate slugs from your garden and protect your plants.
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Head out to your garden in the early morning or at dusk and look for slugs.
Slugs love cool, moist places.
Look under rocks,mulch,leaves, around the base of plants, and under pots.
Pick up the slugs and place them in the soapy water to kill them.
Or relocate them to other outdoor areas where they cannot do much harm.
you could find it at hardware stores, gardening centers, and online.
Use the diatomaceous earth to make a barrier.
Pile it about one inch high and three inches wide around your plants, like a kind of fence.
Note that diatomaceous earth only works when it’s dry, Stoven warns.
If it gets wet, you’ll have to replenish it with fresh product.
Make a Beer Trap
These easy-to-make devices entrap and kill slugs.
All you need are small containers and some beer to make them.
This method, while a bit grim, can be quite effective.
To attract these creatures to your garden, you put out logs or small rock piles for shelter.
A small pond or birdbath can attract birds, frogs, and toads to your garden.
you’re able to also grow various plants, including flowers, to attract beneficial insects.
Then remove them (and the slugs) in the morning.
Grapefruit rinds also work.
Keep your garden clear of debris and organic matter to prevent slugs from finding sanctuary.
Regarding chemical methods, using environmentally-friendly options like baits with iron phosphate is advisable, says Sylva.
These baits are toxic to slugs but safer for other wildlife and pets.
see to it to sprinkle these during the evenings as slugs are more active at night.
For chemical slug control, opt for iron phosphate options when possible.
Take precautions and follow all safety guidelines.
Use well-draining soil and keep your garden clear of potential slug shelters.
Slugs love cool, moist places, so removing organic matter and other items will help prevent slugs.
To prevent future infestations, maintaining a clean garden is key, says Sylva.
Remove any debris, fallen leaves, or weeds where slugs can find shelter.
These fuzzy plants have textures that slugs find unpleasant to crawl on.
Some herbslikerosemary, thyme, lavender, and sagehave strong scents that repel slugs.
Certain vegetables like Swiss chard and kale have a bitter taste discouraging slugs.
Choose a slug-repellent plant that will fit into your garden and environment for a natural slug deterrent.
Frequently Asked Questions
Slugs are small, slimy, shell-less mollusks related to snails.
They look like snails without shells.
They also serve as food for birds and other animals that can be helpful to your garden.
However, slugs can do a lot of damage in gardens because they feed on plants.
In gardens, slugs feed on plants, leaving damaged leaves, stems, and seedlings.
The small, slimy creatures can also carry and transmit diseases between plants.
They often hide under rocks or other objects, burrowed in moist, dark places.
You may see them at night or on cloudy days.
Signs of slugs in your garden include slime trails and holes in the leaves of your plants.
