How can i get rid of slugs from the veggie garden, without harming other animals?

Question

I have tried crushed eggshell but this did not seem to work, I have also heard that even slug pellets with animal detterant is still very harmful to dogs.

Answer 1

Use mulch around your plants that is scratchy like lava rock, Diatomaceous Earth, etc. The mulch keeps out slugs & will cut, dehydrate & eliminate those that try to get to your plants.

Use coffee grounds around acid-loving plants like tomatoes. A study reported in the journal Nature found that slugs and snails are killed when sprayed with a caffeine solution, and that spraying plants with this solution prevents slugs from eating them.

If you can get seeweed, using it as a mulch will keep slugs out of your garden

Here's more natural ways to get rid of slugs:
http://eartheasy.com/grow_nat_slug_cntrl.htm

Good luck! Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Use diatomatious earth. It can be bought at swimming pool stores, as it is used in filters; also at garden stores. It is just crushed shells from a creature something like a coral, it is absolutely harmless to any kids, pets, birds etc. unless you breath in the dust because it is very fine and not good for the lungs. You put it around the plants on the ground and on the plants, it has to be redone after rain or sprinkling. It punctures the slug, as well as most other bugs that get your plants and it dries the bug out. It is totally non poisonous and can even be used on dogs/cats for fleas. For this you rub it into the animals coat kind of backwards to get it to penetrate to the skin. You can brush off the stuff on the surface of the coat, leaving the stuff that is deep and it kills the fleas. Can also be used on carpets, upholstery etc. It won't hurt the dog even if they lick it. Great stuff.

Answer 3

Take small empty cans like cat food or tuna cans, dig a hole in the soil and bury them right up to the rim, then fill with beer. The slugs are attracted to beer, will get drunk and drown. Dispose of the dead slugs, refill with beer and continue until you no longer find dead slugs.

Answer 4

There are a few cannibal snails around. The most common one in my garden is Natalina wesseliana. They really do sort them out. I believe you can also drown them in a saucer of beer. I have never tried this but I have seen it mentioned here. I agree with you on the poison issue - I never use the stuff because it will eventually end up killing something higher up on the feeding pyramid.

Answer 5

Sluggo.....
It's an iron phosphate that is labeled safe to use around pets. I have used used it in flower beds and it works very well. I also have cats and dogs that were not harmed. Beware of the metaldehyde snail and slug killers.

Answer 6

something that we do at my house when we get slugs really bad is put beer in a bowl...they are attracted to the beer and when they fall in they die...if you live in a rural area you could get a duck...we used to have some when we live in the country and they always took care of the slugs...hope this helps you out some....

Answer 7

One slug + salt = dead slug

Answer 8

Go away with a friend and let your husband deal with it!!!!

Answer 9

Jennifer's answer is the best