what can i use instead of slug pellets?

Question

i cant use regular slug pellets to grow my sunflowers this year because they are poisonous to dogs. i was thinking maybe to use salt. is that ok for the plants? any suggestions?

Answer 1

I agree with everyne who recommended beer traps and nematodes. Another suggestion is to pour some porridge oats around your plants and the slugs and snails will not get near your plants as they eat the porridge and this bloats them and they die. works everytime for me..

Answer 2

There are pet/animal friendly slug pellets now, which I use in my organic garden. The brand I use is 'Ferramol'. Costs about £3.50.

I also use other methods to deter slugs and snails - including removal of hiding spots, such as leaf piles, during the winter. This means there are less slugs ready to parent tons of babies, come the spring time. Ad coarse material around the soil tops, as a mulch and also because slugs will not glide over it. Rough sand, broken eggshells etc.

Copper tape is disliked by slugs, due to the 'electrical' charge they get when in contact with it - as long as they cant climb up the plants any other way.

You can also add natural predators to your garden, which I do. These almost microscopic nematodes are already out there. What you do is add a few thousand more to your garden and they will seek out and help destroy slugs - all naturally. I live next to fields and have low slug levels now, after incorporating a wide ranging slug treatment system.

Good luck! Rob

Answer 3

Hello Moonlight -

Definetely do NOT use salt - it will harm the soil and (ultimately) your plants. An organic way to do this is a few: handpicking will work over time. You can also try a very old method of burying a 1/4 full can of beer halfway in the soil with some 'slug-sized' holes in it for snails/slugs to get drunk and drown in. Also, try copper tape around the collars of plants which is toxic to slugs and keeps them from eating plants.

Dry sawdust works - but, only when kept dry. Also, a fine layer of lime (and wood ashes) will work - but, this must be kept dry too (and may damage the soil over a long term use).

Good luck and happy slugging ...

Answer 4

Beer is definitely the answer. In the evening I place glazed ceramic plant saucers of beer where ever I see a trail. I use the ceramic ones because a strong wind can blow away plastic ones. In the morning I just go out and dump them. Always check under the saucers because slugs like to hide there also. We get so many in our yard that I bought bright, decorative, colorful saucers so I could just leave them where they sit all day

Answer 5

Dont use salt - it WILL hurt your plants and may also kill earthworms and beneficial species in your garden. You can protect your plants by putting rough grit, or crushed sea/egg shells around them. Slugs dont like to crawl over them. Also, you can make slug traps by placing half a squeezed grapefruif skin upside down in an area of your garden - the slugs will crawl under this for shelter. You can then collect them and feed them to the ducks in your local park. Beer traps also work but dont feed the dead, beer saturated slugs to the ducks!

Good luck !

Answer 6

Salt may hurt you plants. Try this, get some old empty cans, put some beer into them, just deep enough to drown them in. Slugs love beer, and will smell it from far off. Place a few bricks around the cans, and they will craw inside, drop to the bottom, and drown themselves. Has worked for me. Also, if you feed your pets out side, they will be attracted to this also at night. Pick up their bowls after they are done.

Answer 7

I've used nematodes before & they were fantastic, hardly saw a slug in the following 12 months.

Try searching for "companion planting slugs" on google, will give some ideas.

Useful link;

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/animals/wildbritain/gardenwildlife/myspace/content.shtml?39

You can make a physical barrier with crushed eggshells / sharp sand which apparantly they don't like to cross. Also they won't normally cross a copper barrier, you can buy special copper tape for this.

I have also heard that caffiene kills slugs, make a solution of coffee & apply in a watering can. This is supposed to overload their metabolism. Never tried it but sounds like an interesting idea & won't contaminate your soil.


PS forgot I had this link,

http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=1399&highlight=slugs

Great forum full of useful info on everything under the sun!

Answer 8

I grow tons of flowers and such and I use the slug bait that is flakes, my dogs don't pay any attention to it,and I don't think others would, but I did first go out in the yard with them and sprinkle some and watched to see if they sniffed it and if they were at all interested. I"ve been using this for years and I have 3 cats and 3 dogs. Can't remember the brand, but it comes in a box like a large cereal box. old brain here :)

Answer 9

There is a couple of products on the market that are not harmful to pets and/or people, one is called Sluggo, and I can't remember the other's name, I use these regularly and have many pets and wilderness animals around, and NO slugs or snails.

Answer 10

Beer, did a hole big enough to put a class in so it's level with the ground. Fill with beer, the slugs fall in and that's the end of them.