y have i got so many slugs in my compost bin & how do i get rid of them?

Question

I have put slug pellets in but they are crawling up the sides & r sticking on the lid. I spent last year getting rid of them & they r back with a vegence. If they continue i will get rid of the compost bin. Please help!!!

Answer 1

Get a quart sized spray bottle, mix in 1 cup amonia and fill with water. go out at night and spray them where ever you find them, this will not damage your compost as salt will and leaves no stains, it's basically homemade window cleaner, and evaporates quickly. leaving no residue. If you are doing your check in the daylight, check under rocks pots and lids, any dark moist hiding places. You can even set a trap for them by laying a board on the ground nearby to give them a sheltering place from the sun and be able to find a lot of them right there.
While they may serve as a composting aid, I don't like them at all, and composting goes right on without them. But I completely agree that slug pellets are not a good idea in the bin. You can do without them, they are highly toxic to any number of things.

Answer 2

thats the whole idea of having a compost bin. You will get slugs and all sorts to help mulch the food,waste etc down into compost which in turn you can use in the garden. Leave them alone or it might be best to get rid of your compost bin!
I have got numerous diff insects, slugs etc in mine and they are more than welcome if it helps mulch the waste down.
Just found this
Slugs and snails
Two examples of decomposer organisms that are seen as pests in other parts of the garden, but are helpful in the compost bin. Compost bins can be seen as breeding grounds for slugs and snails and as a result people can be discouraged from composting. Whilst there are no guarantees that they will not be tempted to move to other areas, the compost bin offers a number of advantages. In particular a plentiful food supply in a secure environment. On no account should slug powder or pellets be used in the bin as this would kill other beneficial organisms.

Answer 3

best way is to keep looking for them on a daily basis, put them in a jar with a screw lid. throw in the bin or keep the jar and the slugs will eventually turn to liquid which you can pore back onto the compost heap. eventually they will lessen in numbers but it is an uphill struggle. Alternative is to get nematodes which kill the slugs naturally.

Answer 4

You need them as they will help the whole composting process;and with a bit of luck keep them off the rest of your garden.
Slug pellets in your compost is not very organic.

Answer 5

Why would you want to get rid of them? They are helping to decompose the biodegradable waste you put in your compost bin, without the slugs, and other 'pests' It would take much longer for your waste to be turned into compost.

Answer 6

Flatten out your compost pile, put a large plastic plant saucer on top and fill it with a can of beer. They can't resist it. Next day just dump it and keep doing it until they are gone. Be sure to check under the saucer when you dump it because they like to hide there.

Answer 7

Your pile probably is not getting very warm, if you have that many slugs on it.
You should be able to stick your hand in the middle and feel a decided warmth, if not, the pile isn't "cooking".
Try turning your pile more often, mixing in "greens" and "browns" to get the pile cooking.
Make sure you are not over-watering your pile also, just a light misting before you turn the pile is plenty.

Answer 8

No, dont get rid of them, they will help the process of composting.

Answer 9

sprinkle some lime ,(whitewash)on the compost ,thisis good for the compost and kills the snails

Answer 10

I know this sounds really odd but use the spoil from ground coffee... the left over bit that you would normally throw out... trust me it works...
Good luck!!!