Slugs Are Gone – The Garden Pest That Eats Your Garden
Slugs are gone the focus of this discussion. The garden pest that we all do not need. These little guys can consume your garden plants overnight. Below are some methods used to get rid of slugs. Or when it is necessary, wave your magic wand and say slugs be gone, out of my garden. Let me know if the wand method works.
Slugo Plus
Recently I have been using Slugo Plus to handle the rolly pollies as well as slugs and snails. Slugo Plus is OMRI and considered safe when used in organic gardens. There are two versions of “Slugo” and “Sluggo Plus.”
Slugo only works on snails and slugs where are Slugo Plus kills slugs, cutworms, earwigs, pillbugs, and snails are some of nature’s most damaging garden pests. These super-effective pellets are a combination of two natural pesticides: iron phosphate and spinosad. Just sprinkle around areas you want to protect. 1 lb. treats 2000 square feet and lasts up to 4 weeks.
- Protect your prize hostas, ripe strawberries, and lettuce
- Rid your garden of slugs in 3 to 6 days
- Pellets are clean and comfortable to use
- Also effective on earwigs, cutworms, sowbugs, pillbugs, and snails.
Beer
Slugs are attracted to the yeast in beer, so if you place shallow containers of cheap fresh beer on the ground near your garden, slugs will crawl in and drown. I use the metal muffin inserts, and they are relatively inexpensive. Make a depression in your garden bed, so the muffin insert’s edge is at the surface level. Pour in some cheap beer about ¾ full. The slug can’t get out of the beer, and they drown. Replace the used muffing insert with another filled ¾ full of beer. Pitch the use one in the trash.
Board on the Garden Trick
You can place a board or piece of cardboard on an open space in your garden bed. The slugs and snail will use the material to shade them from the sun. Use an old spatula to slide the critters into a bucket of soapy water. Dispose of them in the trash.
Diatomaceous Earth.
Diatomaceous earth is grounded fossilize alga composed of silica. When silica comes into contact with insects, it fatally cuts the slugs and other insects, causing death. The problem is it kills beneficial insects too.
Copper bands
I have never used the copper bands around the plants or beds. What is supposed to happen is the copper gives a mild electric shock drives the slug away. Expensive for what it does.
Iron phosphate
The bait is in the form of pellets. When ingested, the iron phosphate causes the slugs to stop eating. It is supposed to be safe for man and beast.
Poison
DO NOT use the version that contains Methiocarb. It will kill the slugs and snails and every other animal that comes in contact with them. Second-hand exposure is generally the most common victims of metaldehyde poisoning—pets, followed by children, gardeners, and wild birds and animals.