How can I get rid of slugs besides salt?

Question

This year, I have had an unusual number of slugs on my deck. Does anyone know any other suggestions besides the old death by salt trick? Any chemicals they sell at Home Depot kill slugs?

Answer 1

Yes there are several products for killing slugs. There are powders, sprays, and many other applications in which to do this. Home Depot and every other hardware store and nursery should have several of these. They should be in with the other pest killers and fungi control just look for something that says that it kills or repels slugs and apply it as the instructions say and you shouldn't see them anymore.

Answer 2

There is an Ortho product called "Slug Getta", It is available at Lowe's and Home Depot in my area. For some reason it's a dollar more at Home Depot. It's priced at 7 or 8 bucks. It last about a month. I have used it to control slugs in the garden - the tiny ones that eat everything.

You can also pour beer into a shallow dish and leave out for the slugs. They climb into the beer and drown... this does work but in my garden I was unable to eliminate enough slugs to stop my plants from being severly destroyed.

The Slug Getta worked pretty much overnight. I couldn't find a single slug the night after I put the stuff out, where there had been hundreds before. This is your best bet.

Answer 3

CornmealPut a tablespoon or two of cornmeal in a jar and lay it on its side wherever there is slug activity. The slugs love this stuff and after eating it they die.
When you go out in the evening, you should find many slugs in and around the trap. It is also quite easy to pick them up at this time.



BeerDig a hole approximately 4-6 inches deep.
Place a plastic (disposable) cup inside the hole.
Fill the cup about 80% full of beer. Yes, beer.
Check daily. Empty out the slugs and refill with beer as often as needed. The slugs are attracted to the yeast and barley in the beer.



AmmoniaMix plain household ammonia (or sudsy ammonia if that's all you can find), 1 part ammonia to 6 parts water. This dilution doesn't seem to burn foliage.
Spritz onto slug, come back in 5 minutes and slug will have dissolved.
A pressurized garden sprayer, or a trigger sprayer will work.



Organic DeterrentsUse salt. Spread salt on the surface where they are crawling around and they will dry up. However, if you plan to use the soil to grow plants in, salt can very easily ruin the soil for plants.
Coffee grounds and egg shells will also deter slugs. Place used coffee grounds (the stronger the better) or broken egg shells in a circular perimeter around the plants you are trying to protect.
Buy copper strips as an alternative. While these are expensive, they are also a good alternative for protecting small areas or individual plants. They react electrostatically with the slug or snail slime. The pests dry up.
Consider the other organic slug deterrents that generally contain sharp, water-absorbing, stone chips. Slugs don't like to slide over sharp stone on their delicate tummies and if they do come into contact with it, it acts rather like salt and desiccates them.
Use sand. Distribute playground sand around young plants early in the Spring. Be generous with the sand. Slugs hate sand because it rips their bellies open and they die.



Chemical MethodsConsider the remedies available that involve toxic materials (neatly disguised with slug/snail attractants). Unfortunately, dogs are also attracted and can consume the poisons and become very ill. If you have a dog, avoid pesticides that contain toxins.

Answer 4

yes... look for any slug bait that contains Iron Phosphate as the 'killer' ingredient... it's safe around pets and kiddies and eventually turns into fertilizer if not eaten by a slug..... I grow a lot of hostas and thanks to this product, I don't have holes in the leaves anymore..... I have pets, so something safe was necessary... this product really works!!... there's several brands available... just be sure of the ingredients!... read that label!!... ;-)

use it around places that they can hide... or around the plants they bother.... get rid of, or put the bait around things that can hide them in the area, like planter boxes on the ground, same for pots of plants, boards lying around, rocks, logs, stepping stones....decorative objects.... lift it up, look for a slug living there!!.... I have a crack between the foundation of the house and cement pad at the bottom of the steps there.... I poured some of the bait in there and suddenly, they quit getting into the dog's food bowl on the porch!!!.... yay!... the stuff works....

Answer 5

Buy slug bait, available anywhere you find pest control products. Work great, and causes no harm other than to the slugs, whereas the salt can cause permanent soil and concrete damage.

Answer 6

I always heard that some beer in a shallow bowl will do the trick.

Answer 7

Awww slugs only help. Try just repeling them, not killing, by dehumidifying your deck area with a dehumidifyer

Answer 8

as scout485 mentioned, salt poisons the soil. go for diatomaceous earth. it's a non-toxic, naturally-occuring substance that absolutely works. it dehydrates them and cuts up their tender undersides and they will not slither over it for even the tenderest of plant morsels. must reapply after rain/watering.

Answer 9

Your best bet is to go to Home Depot or call them and ask them that same question.

Answer 10

sit some small containers of beer around.