How to get rid of slugs in my flower beds & what can I do to prevent?

Sgu16144472
by Sgu16144472
  10 answers
  • William William on Jul 19, 2017

    Sink a few bowls or plates in the ground level with the surface. Fill the bowls/plates with (cheap) beer. The yeast attracts the slugs. They drink their fill and drown. Not their sorrows


    Anything you can make it uncomfortable for the slugs/snails to crawl on will deter them. A combination of solutions from everyone here should take care of them.


    Broken nutshells work in the same way as egg shells when getting rid of slugs. Break up the nutshells into small pieces, and create a protective barrier around your plants. Any slugs that come near your vegetables will soon turn the other way.


    Crushed egg shells work as a great home remedy of slugs. This is because slugs don’t like moving across sharp objects, although it isn’t not impossible for them to do, they just prefer not to. Break up the empty egg shells into small(ish) pieces and place around the flowers, plants, vegetables, and fruits you want to keep safe from slug damage.


    Ash and Cinders make a rough protective barrier, and the fine ash also acts as a desiccant that dries the slug out. Wood ash and cinders are preferable. Avoid direct contact with plants.


    Grit and Gravel. The sharp rasping edges of finely crushed ‘horticultural grit’ makes an excellent slug barrier. Coarser gravel is largely ineffective, other than for decorative purposes.


    Sandpaper. Cut rings of sandpaper and slip them round the stems of vulnerable plants.


    Sawdust makes a good coarse barrier around tender plants, also acting as a desiccant that dries the slug out. Hardwood sawdust is most effective, and some people recommend cedar or oak.


    Copper Rings or Discs. Solid copper rings/discs of various diameter, used to encircle single or small groups of plants to inflict a mild electric shock on the unsuspecting slug. Look for rings that clip together. These are easy to slip round established plant stems, or join together to form a larger barrier.

  • Lyle Birnie Lyle Birnie on Jul 19, 2017

    Put a pie plate with beer in the flower beds and they will come to that.

  • Rob8527623 Rob8527623 on Jul 19, 2017

    I heard a shallow cup of beer.


  • Deborah Harbin Deborah Harbin on Jul 19, 2017

    You can sprinkle them with salt. Just don't overdo it because too much salt will not be good for your plants.

  • Mary McCowan Mary McCowan on Jul 19, 2017

    I know this sounds cruel but pouring salt on them devolves them

  • Constance Constance on Jul 19, 2017

    Slugs love beer. Jerry Baker, The Garden Guy suggests putting down saucers of beer in the evening at dusk and letting the little guys drink to their hearts content. Sounds gross, I know, but it works. In the AM, you have a bunch of swollen bellied slugs laying around...your job now is to get rid of them!

    Jerry Baker, The Garden Guy is 100% NATURAL!

  • Amanda Amanda on Jul 19, 2017

    You can put out a bowl of beer. Dump it everyday and add more beer. The slugs go in it and drown. After about a week they should be all gone. To prevent them I would sprinkle Epsom salt around.

  • Jason Walker Jason Walker on Jul 19, 2017

    used coffee filters

  • Sgu16144472 Sgu16144472 on Jul 20, 2017

    thank you all very much I will try them!!