Slugs in garden - good or bad

Question

This morning found a little track of white (what I thought were bugs) and my sister told me they were slug tracks.  I did find a slug but don't know what I should do now.  We are trying to plant a butterfly garden.  All of a sudden we are seeing more that one hummingbird at a time and they enjoy the garden too along with their regular food.
We have been going to Lowe's and picking up plants they put up for rescue for a dollar or 75% off.  So far they are doing well.  We are simply trial and error.  We'll appreciate any help.  I love all the information you posess and share

Kimberly Barney · Answer

The older pennies will get rid of the slugs when scattered amongst your garden.

The Garden Frog with C Renee · Answer

If you find a slug you need to 'dispose' of him. They will destroy delicate foliage and love hostas. Nothing eats them and if you pour salt on them they disintegrate. There are all kinds of methods to keep them away or kill them ~copper, a splash of beer in dishes around the plants.

Wanda sinnema · Answer

slugs love the moisture,,will arrive in your garden on the bottom of a pot, inside the pot if there is timy dark moist space in th bottom to hide..... an old fashioned trick to rid of them..Beer in a shallow pie pan or old dish,,fill it with beer, they slither in, drink it, get drunk, fall in and die..1 slug will lay 1000 eggs a season..... they will eat anything and almost everything you plant..except leaves with fuzzy or little hairy coatings...annuals, periennals, fancy,. plain, vegetables GET RID OF THEM. any and all of them.

Debra Peters · Answer

If you've got kids, they will love to take care of the slugs. show them how to salt the things, give them the shaker, and the slugs will be GONE! lol Remind them a little bit goes a long wan, that way you won't get too much salt in the garden soil (won't be good for your plants.)

Douglas Hunt · Answer

You can sprinkle diatomaceous earth around your plants if you are having an issue with slugs. You have to reapply after it rains, but it's otherwise very effective.

MaryAnne Corliss · Answer

Thank you all for your help. I just love your generosity to share your wisdom. 
NOW my sister tells me my slug might have been a snail. EEK! So same question is now transferred from slug to snails.
Good/Bad? What do I do?

Marie S · Answer

if you burn wood, the ashes also works well too. Which after rain need to apply again.

Joan · Answer

You can use vinegar too; put in spray bottle and spray away. Yes, they love Hostas.

Kelley Storey · Answer

I have always used small plastic cups with top cut off filled with beer, they go right for it! Just set the cut of bottom of a solo cups a few inches from plants throughout garden and fill with beer. Any brand will do!

Peg · Answer

I've tried several of these remedies for slugs, they all work. Putting the ashes from my wood stove aoround my hostas and other slug attacked plants wook great too as Marie S suggested.

Wanda sinnema · Answer

@ Joan I never heard of vinegar will try that.....

Wanda sinnema · Answer

reminder to all TABLE SALT is a KILLER of PLANTS....... you EPSON SALTS for healthy boosts on plants....its Potassium -----------,(Chloride, I think)

MaryAnne Corliss · Answer

Thank you all. You have been so helpful.

Erin G · Answer

I've got TONS of slugs this year, and I've tried the diatomacious earth (effectiveness turned to ZERO after the first rain), I've tried the beer traps (they just got drunk & left!), and I do NOT want to salt the earth around my plants (salt kills EVERYTHING, soil included!).

I've taked instead to hunting the little buggers every day -- I laid wet newspaper & a couple of folded up garbage bags around my hosta bed. They like to hide in the paper or platis... I check each one every morning and just use a plant tag to dump them in a bucket of soapy water, then cover the bucket so they can't get out... they drown and I dump the bucket into my green garbage bin. A bit of warning, though -- they will STINK if you forget to dump them! I was gagging the other day, ugh!

Sugarbunny49 · Answer

Isn't that what they call a slugfest?? LOL Everyone drinks beer and gets into fights.....sorry, too good to resist.

Cheri Dittler · Answer

lay a jar on its side with cornmeal in the bottom..they will come to it and stay, feasting on it

NANCY · Answer

THEY LOVE BEER, CAUGHT A PAN FULL, MY DOG LOVED THE MARINATED SLUGS AND BEER TOO, SHE CLEANED THE DISH.

Slugs in garden - good or bad

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Slugs in garden - good or bad

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