What's the best way to get rid of slugs in a vegetable garden?

Question

They seem to come up readily after a good rain

Kathy · Answer

I have used coffee grounds (dried out after making coffee) and spread on the soil around your plants. (You can also use crushed clean eggshells in the same way.)

Nancy Nichols Smith · Answer

Take a small tart tin, and press it into the soil so that it is level with the ground and fill it with beer. They will slime their way in and drown happy!

Sarahcrna1 · Answer

Put a disposable pie tin on the ground and pour some beer into it. The slugs drink it and die happy.

William · Answer

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.

Jea29158587 · Answer

William,

Several great suggestions for us to try. Thank you.

Kathy · Answer

That is my assumption also. I try to keep a 'supply' by drying out the grounds after every pot of coffee I make.

Nancy · Answer

Try sprinkling old ash around the plants. Slugs need moisture to survive. The wood ash causes them to dehydrate. Hope this helps. My husband goes out in the garden very night after dark...hunts with a light. He puts them in a pale of water if they get past the barrier.

Roxy · Answer

Egg shells crushed up and put around plants

Nancy · Answer

i believe they drown. You could add some salt or ammonia to the water

Jea29158587 · Answer

Good idea. Thanks.

What's the best way to get rid of slugs in a vegetable garden?

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What's the best way to get rid of slugs in a vegetable garden?

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