Is there an environmentally friendly way to remove slugs and snails from my lawn?

Question

I don't want to spray any pesticides or chemicals.

Answer 1

Strong coffee poured directly on slugs kills them.
Spread coffee grounds around base of plants.

Water grass & plants only in the morning - the surface soil will be dry by evening. Studies show this can reduce slug damage by 80%

Clear out the old leaves & mulch which they may be hiding in. Then surround your plants with one of these: sharp sand, crushed egg shells, lava rock, Diatomaceous Earth, cedar, pine needles, & oak bark. These will cut & dehydrate the slugs, & eliminate them. Oak leave & seaweed can be used to deter slugs & snails.

Trap slugs with beer or other fermented material.Sprinkle Chili pepper on slugs & on & around the plants. Galic spray is sometimes used for getting rid of slugs, cutworms, wireworms, & whiteflies:
In a blender mix 4 cloves of garlic with 1 chopped onion. Place this mixture in a large glass jar and add 2 cups of water. Add 2 teaspoons of bottled hot pepper sauce, stir ingredients together and steep for 2 days. Strain the mixture and add one tablespoon Ivory liquid soap. Then dilute with 5 cups of water. Do not use in full sun or high temperatures because that's when they can burn or stress plants.

A two inch strip of copper flashing material is an effective slug barrier.

"For a biological control, you can use nematodes - microscopic parasites that kill the slugs above and below ground. Obtained from organic garden suppliers, you simply mix the powder with water and spray on to the soil using a watering can. This can be effective for around six weeks.

If you are lucky enough to have the space, adopt some chickens or ducks - they just love eating slugs - and you can have some free eggs into the bargain.

Make your garden wildlife friendly, to encourage the natural predators of slugs and snails to come and visit... encourage frogs and toads...and put up bird feeders."
http://www.gardening-club.com/Tips_on_Dealing_with_Slugs_and_Snails_in_the_Garden.php

The above site & this next site, mentions using oat bran around plants to kill slugs & snails. I can't find any scientific studies on oat bran...but there's scientific studies on coffee's ability to kill slugs. There's many more suggestions here including:
"A mulch made of stems and leaves of strong smelling herbs like wormwood, mints, tansy, lemon balm along with conifer twigs mixed in will help stop slugs and other pests."
http://www.ghorganics.com/page13.html

If the surroundings are not hospitable to the slugs & snails, they' won't be around very long.

Good luck! Hope this is helpful.

Answer 2

It is because your lawn is a monoculture, diversity is the key to allow nature to balance populations. If you get rid of these insects others will take their place, some may be much worse. So encourage natural predators by planting lots of insect friendly plants in your garden, plant things that produce seeds or berries to encourage birds. Why not go for it, replace the lawn with a wild life garden it stops the need to mow, stops the worry of 'pests', it is fantastic to just sit and watch, you will be amazed at how much more pleasure it gives you and your family when you see all the flora and fauna 'arriving' and going about their daily business. Dig a small pond too and you will have hours of enjoyment and you will be helping the environment too.

Answer 3

I live in a wet climate, Pacific Northwest, where slugs are rampant, and gardeners swear by this remedy. 'Plant' an open beer bottle in the ground with the neck about an inch or 2 out of the ground, half the beer emptied. The slugs are attracted to the beer, will climb in the bottle but then they drown, voila bye bye slugs. You will need to continue planting the bottles as they fill up, plant them near (a foot or so away) from or between the plants hardest hit.

Answer 4

I agree with the first answer about the beer, I don't know about the copper, never heard that one.
Another pesticide-free solution is table salt. You do have to be careful not to get too much on your lawn though or it will leave brown patches.
Good luck!

Answer 5

turn an old gutterlng upside down,near to where most of the slugs are.they will crawl underneath at night.in the morning,shake them into a tin and dispose of.you can dig little holes in the ground and put ln jars level with ground.put a little beer in the bottom,next day you will have loads of slugs with hangovers,in the jars.

Answer 6

Beer or copper. For some reason, they will be attracted to a low plastic container filled with beer and drown. Copper strips somehow electrocute them.

Answer 7

Egg shells will keep them away also!

Answer 8

sugar

or picking them up and taking them far away from your land