Asked on May 11, 2017

How to get rid of slugs?

Anna
by Anna
For some reason I have a real bad slug problem on my back porch. They are climbing up the brick wall and on my screen door trying to get in the house. Don't know what has caused them to show but never had them before
  12 answers
  • William William on May 11, 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.

  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 11, 2017

    Apply food grade diatomaceous earth

  • Janice Janice on May 12, 2017

    Sprinkle around some Epsom Salt. This is safe for kids and pets.

  • Bha2932272 Bha2932272 on May 12, 2017

    Crush eggshells and throw them on top. Slugs hate sliding on them.


  • Kathi M. Miles Kathi M. Miles on May 12, 2017

    Plain regular salt works well, just put it where you don't want the slugs to go! Epsom salt works just as well, and your plants even like it!

  • SandyG SandyG on May 12, 2017

    Spread diatomaceous earth around porch in the yard and also on the porch along the edge where they seem to be climbing up the brick wall. Be sure to buy diatomaceous earth for garden use. May have to re-apply after a rain. Not only will help with slugs but great for a lot of creepy crawlies like; ants, spiders, fleas.

  • Bernadette Staal Bernadette Staal on May 12, 2017

    leave a row of standard salt that they have to crawl over and they will sizzle up and die.

  • Pattie Pattie on Aug 13, 2023

    Does anybody have any idea why my chimney seems to be where they’re coming from. It’s like they live in the brick and mortar. Somehow any ideas to get rid of them? I don’t wanna put the whole beer thing out because I don’t wanna be cleaning up dead, slugs every morning?

  • Deb K Deb K on Aug 13, 2023

    Hi Anna, lots of rain increases the slug population. Hope this helps you out,

    https://www.hgtv.com/outdoors/gardens/planting-and-maintenance/how-to-control-slugs

  • Redcatcec Redcatcec on Aug 14, 2023

    I use plain table salt, it dissolves them. Re-apply after the rain.

  • Janice Janice on Aug 14, 2023

    The crushed eggshells work well.

  • Johnavallance82 Johnavallance82 on Aug 14, 2023

    Slug Pellets? WD-40 - they don't like it!