Natural Control of Slugs and Snails
Types of Slugs: There are different species of snails and slugs. The most common types of snails are Land Snails, but are usually just called garden slugs. All garden snails are land snails and they are active during the night. Hosta slugs, banana slugs,black slugs, and Leopard slugs are some of the more well known slugs.There are a variety of species of slugs and some species are kept as pets.
What do slugs eat? Land Snails mainly eat lettuce, spinach and cabbage. They particularly like to feed fruit plants and plants that are close to the ground. Most slugs eat decaying plant matter and parts of plants not used for human consumption. However, this can still be a problem to gardeners as they make the plants look unsightly.
Slugs in Love. Both slugs and snails are unique in the fact that they do not have separate sexes. Most of their species are both male and female though they do still need a mate to breed.
Types of Slugs: There are different species of snails and slugs. The most common types of snails are Land Snails, but are usually just called garden slugs. All garden snails are land snails and they are active during the night. Hosta slugs, banana slugs,black slugs, and Leopard slugs are some of the more well known slugs.There are a variety of species of slugs and some species are kept as pets.
What do slugs eat? Land Snails mainly eat lettuce, spinach and cabbage. They particularly like to feed fruit plants and plants that are close to the ground. Most slugs eat decaying plant matter and parts of plants not used for human consumption. However, this can still be a problem to gardeners as they make the plants look unsightly.
Slugs in Love. Both slugs and snails are unique in the fact that they do not have separate sexes. Most of their species are both male and female though they do still need a mate to breed.
Differences between Slugs and Snails
The main difference between a slug and a snail is that snails have shells and slugs do not. Both snails and slugs have breathing holes but they have them in different places. Slugs have theirs on their right side and snails have theirs under the shell.
Slugs and Snails both have mantles but again they are in different places. This rough protective skin can be found on the slug's skin and just under the shell on snails.
Where are Slugs and Snails Found?
Snails and slugs can both be found in moist areas and some snails live in freshwater ponds. Moist microclimates are the main reason slugs and snails come to a garden. In cold months, slugs and snails can be found almost anywhere.Slugs in Love. Both slugs and snails are unique in the fact that they do not have separate sexes. Most of their species are both male and female though they do still need a mate to breed.
Killing Slugs. The most effective way of trapping and killing snails and slugs is by using beer traps. Beer traps (sometimes called slug saloons) can be made using a plastic cup, wide mounth jar, or tuna can filled with little beer. Then it can be buried flush with the soil. Slugs and snails are attracted to the beer so they fall into the beer and drown. Remove slugs and snails dailyor they will use each other to climb out.
Diatomaceous Earth (DE) is the sharp, jagged skeletal remains of microscopic creatures. It cuts soft-bodied pests, causing them to dehydrate. A powdery granular material, it can be sprinkled around garden beds or individual plants to control slugs and snails and other soft bodied insects like ants,fleas,ticks, and silverfish. It is nautral, and completely safe for pets and humans and is available in containers from a few ounces to 50 lb bags.(see below).
Slug Ammonia spray - Mix a solution of 70-80% household ammonia with water, put this solution into a spray bottle and set the nozzle to squirt like a water pistol. Wait untill it gets dark, then spray away your problem with slugs and snails.
Garlic Barrier Recipe: Combine 3 ounces of minced garlic cloves with 1 ounce of mineral oil. Let soak for 24 hours or longer. Strain. Next mix 1 teaspoon of fish emulsion with 16 ounces of water. Add 1 tablespoon of castille soap to this. Now slowly combine the fish emulsion water with the garlic oil. Kept in a sealed glass container this mixture will stay viable for several months. If you prefer to buy a commercial Garlic Barrier product that is ready-made and contains a "sticker" to make it last longer, check out the Garlic Barrier below.
A study in June 2002 reported in the journal Nature found that slugs and snails are killed when sprayed with a caffeine solution, and that spraying plants with this solution prevents slugs from eating them. The percentage of caffeine required in a spray (1 - 2%) is greater than what is found in a cup of coffee (.05 - 07%). You can make very strong coffee, three or four times normal, then let it sit for 2-3 days to strenthen and then try spraying that on plants.
Getting rid of slugs might need to be a multi-faceted approached. If all else fails, use salt. Use a flashlight to find slugs at night and sprinkle a bit of salt on the slug. Salted slugs die quickly.
Preventing Slugs: Keep your garden as dry as possible at night while slugs and snails are active. Water in the morning - the surface soil will be dry by evening. Studies show this can reduce slug damage by 80%.
Remove dead and rotting leaves from the garden area to remove good hiding places for both snails and slugs.
Cultivating the soil in your garden frequently also helps unearth slugs that may be hiding.
Seaweed is a natural repellent for slugs. Seaweed is salty and slugs avoid salt.
Mulch with seaweed around the base of plants or perimeter of bed. Pile it on 3" to 4" thick and it will shrink when it dries.
Small strips of copper can be placed around flower pots or raised beds as barriers.
Garlic Barrier Recipe: Combine 3 ounces of minced garlic cloves with 1 ounce of mineral oil. Let soak for 24 hours or longer. Strain. Next mix 1 teaspoon of fish emulsion with 16 ounces of water. Add 1 tablespoon of castille soap to this. Now slowly combine the fish emulsion water with the garlic oil. Kept in a sealed glass container this mixture will stay viable for several months. If you prefer to buy a commercial Garlic Barrier product that is ready-made and contains a "sticker" to make it last longer, check out the Garlic Barrier below.
A study in June 2002 reported in the journal Nature found that slugs and snails are killed when sprayed with a caffeine solution, and that spraying plants with this solution prevents slugs from eating them. The percentage of caffeine required in a spray (1 - 2%) is greater than what is found in a cup of coffee (.05 - 07%). You can make very strong coffee, three or four times normal, then let it sit for 2-3 days to strenthen and then try spraying that on plants.
Getting rid of slugs might need to be a multi-faceted approached. If all else fails, use salt. Use a flashlight to find slugs at night and sprinkle a bit of salt on the slug. Salted slugs die quickly.
Preventing Slugs: Keep your garden as dry as possible at night while slugs and snails are active. Water in the morning - the surface soil will be dry by evening. Studies show this can reduce slug damage by 80%.
Remove dead and rotting leaves from the garden area to remove good hiding places for both snails and slugs.
Cultivating the soil in your garden frequently also helps unearth slugs that may be hiding.
Seaweed is a natural repellent for slugs. Seaweed is salty and slugs avoid salt.
Mulch with seaweed around the base of plants or perimeter of bed. Pile it on 3" to 4" thick and it will shrink when it dries.
Small strips of copper can be placed around flower pots or raised beds as barriers.
Oak Stump makes a slug trap that uses a powdered vegetable extract that is mixed with water to create a long-lasting lure. Slugs are drawn in and then drown. (See below)
Overturned flowerpots, with a stone placed under the rim to tilt it up a bit, will attract slugs. Slugs will go in at night and you can remove slugs daily.
After you eat all you want out of Grapefruit halves, you can use them the same way as the overturned flowerpots.
Set a wide board on the ground near the affected area. Slugs will hide under the board. Black plastic sheeting also works the same way.
Garlic-based slug repellents are effective slug killers. Garlic Barrier has been tested and found to be very effective and easy to use. (Below)
Coffee grounds scattered on top of the soil will deter slugs. The grounds are also good for soil conditioning.
Overturned flowerpots, with a stone placed under the rim to tilt it up a bit, will attract slugs. Slugs will go in at night and you can remove slugs daily.
After you eat all you want out of Grapefruit halves, you can use them the same way as the overturned flowerpots.
Set a wide board on the ground near the affected area. Slugs will hide under the board. Black plastic sheeting also works the same way.
Garlic-based slug repellents are effective slug killers. Garlic Barrier has been tested and found to be very effective and easy to use. (Below)
Coffee grounds scattered on top of the soil will deter slugs. The grounds are also good for soil conditioning.