how can I get rid of slugs in my vegetable garden?

Answer 1

In our area I have found that the best solution is to go as organic as is reasonable. Encourage wild birds, for example - they eat slugs.

We live in an area where people can keep a few hens and just three or four hens will take care of all the slugs in quite a large area.

Check out the link for "companion planting". I have heard very positive things about it. The links also describe the beer method, the ammonia method, the salt method, the egg shells method, the coffee grounds method, the chemical method, and others.

I hope something from this posting is helpful to you. Best of luck with it.

Answer 2

I live in an area where we have many slugs and snails, and although I tried the beer and eggshell methods, they still were not enough to really control the slugs and snails. Salt is not good for your plants or your soil, so it's not a method you can use for long and still have a fertile garden. I have pets, so I don't want to use toxic baits; the typical slug and snail poisons available can cause seizures and deaths in dogs and cats. There are some great, very effective and non-toxic slug and snail baits that are made of iron phosphates, which are not poisonous to pets or wildlife but are as effective on snails and slugs as the bad stuff like Corry's Slug and Snail Death or Deadline. Some of the brand names of the iron phosphates are Sluggo, Garden Safe Slug and Snail Bait, and Escarg-go. And when the iron phosphates break down, rather than leaving poisons behind, they are utilized by the plants, since iron is an essential growth mineral. There's no need to resort to toxins when there are alternatives that are not only safe for the environment but actually good for the plants.

Answer 3

Eggshells is a good idea especially if you have tomatoes. Tomatoes love the extra calcium and the calcium also stops blossom end rot. The beer solution is also good. You have place boards in the dirt around your garden and the slugs will congregate under the boards. Scrape and remove in the morning, slugs perform their worst at night. I have used thistles around the base of plants. Also I have heard that a copper strip around plants works. Best advice...anything sharp around the base of plants but not touching the stems. Salt can change the PH of your soil and can also kill your plants. Dont recommend using salt as a cure.

Answer 4

The cheapest and safest way I have found, without using poison. Buy some beer, put it in shallow dishes all around garden. The slugs will go to it rather tan your vegetables. And everyone will dye with a smile on it's face.

Answer 5

Sprinkle salt(careful can also do a number on plants).

Put out slug bait... that is shallow containers of beer(gasp- thats alcohol abuse) Next morning use flamethrower- no salt- no flush- well dispose of the poor things while they're still drunk(even if drowned- hard to tell) as you know how alcohol effects reproduction... sometimes the birds will beat you to it look for well fed birds flying in an erractic manner...

Slugs come in soft and hard(with shell- snails anyone?) versions... both go for the beer.
And both shrivel from contact with salt- oh it burns it burns... I'm melting...

Once under control ALL the beer can be yours again.. until next time!

Or put on insect repellent, grab flashnight and empty jar and go out at night(when they feed- most people don't know they're related to vampires- hence the salt / beer works- also garlic but then you have to get rid of the French people and that's harder) amd pick them off one by one- by hand or tweezers(they're French and won't notice- no wait I meant the slugs).

Some how this a little easier with beer too- for you! Don't forget your handy jar- and before retiring replace lid!

Or dig ring of gravel/sand around plants... they cannot cross certain materials... place beer within ring or pick off fellows at night- birds(domesticated or not do hHELP alot. Plus I always plant one third to die, one third for bugs, one third to giveaway and one third to eat... hmmm too much beer or that's why I do not teach math...

Answer 6

Sluggo is a relatively new snail and slug control. It is non-toxic, safe to use around vegetables and pets too. It degrades into fertilizer. It's fabulous.

Most other products are poisonous and salt is not good for the soil.

Answer 7

They sell a powder that you can buy to get rid of slugs and snails. You just sprinkle it around your garden or flower beds.

Answer 8

Put eggshells around your plants, they cannot slug their way over them. Also a jar lid full of beer, this attracts them and they drown in it. Or the oldest trick in the book spread salt around the garden, they melt.

Answer 9

their is a new product available now called slug stoppa it looks like fullers earth granules the slugs wont cross it as it drys them out .also when the granules are totally saturated they can be dug into the earth and they lighten the soil.

Answer 10

they got stuff for slugs at wal-mart garden section