How do I protect Hosta from snails, slugs, and other insects?

How do I protect Hostas from garden pests

  3 answers
  • Peggy L Burnette Peggy L Burnette on Jun 15, 2019

    Hi Tony, sorry you are having problems with slugs and insects on your hostas. Hope this will help you. How to keep slugs off hostas?

    Sprinkle some Epsom salt. Place a ring of salt around wherever you want to keep theslugs out of, and they will avoid that area. Eggshells will work, too. Similar to coffee grounds but less harmful, use your leftover eggshells to deter pesky slugs from yourhostas.Feb 5, 2018

  • Lynn Sorrell Lynn Sorrell on Jun 15, 2019

    buy snail/slug bait from store

  • William William on Jun 15, 2019

    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.