How do I get rid of slugs (snails)?

Debbie
by Debbie
snails are eating my hostas and plants.
  11 answers
  • Janet Pizaro Janet Pizaro on May 23, 2017

    Food grades diatomaceous earth,crush egg shells,copper banding,a plate of beer

  • Rob7453153 Rob7453153 on May 23, 2017

    Get diatomaceous earth at the garden store. Sprinkle it liberally in a circle around each plant. Reapply after it rains. There is also a product called "Slug-go" which is effective.

  • Tammy Tammy on May 23, 2017

    Pour beer into shallow bowls and pave them out at night.

  • William William on May 23, 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.

  • Ann23321831 Ann23321831 on May 23, 2017

    Beer in jar lid

  • Debbie Debbie on May 23, 2017

    Thank you for all the great ideas. Now I get to work!

  • Lenora wilson Lenora wilson on May 23, 2017

    Put beer in pie pans and sit them around your yard or garden. For some reason they love beer. Or you could put salt on them. It dries them up.

  • Hen23399301 Hen23399301 on May 23, 2017

    Snails are delicious to eat, so keep them in a container, when you have got enough of them , feed them with normal flour ,this will clean them inside,wash them thorouly and let them to fast for one day or two, after that , wash them again, and cook them in a tomato sauce, for (spicy or not )

  • Michelle Leslie Michelle Leslie on Aug 02, 2020

    Hi there Debbie, it might sound silly but we have a few overturned flowerpots, with a stone placed under the rim to lift them up a bit, scattered around our garden. We check them every few days for snails. They like crawling inside. Grapefruit and orange halves work too. We also try watering our garden in the morning instead of the evening. Snails and slugs like moist conditions so by watering in the morning it gives the surface soil time to dry out by the evening when snails are most active.

  • Laura Laura on May 12, 2021

    Out Epsom Salt around the Hosta Plant 😃

  • Clay B Clay B on May 16, 2021

    Sluggo, or diatomaceous earth found at pool store.