Best Way to Get Rid of Slugs in Your House

Are you fed up battling with snails and slugs in your garden?

Does information technology feel like a losing battle sometimes? Don't worry, there are ways to control these little creatures.

I'1000 non a fan of using pesticides or any kind of toxic poisonous substance in the garden unless it is really necessary. Most of the time there are harmless alternatives that can do the fob.

What I will say next might shock y'all, but I'm willing to take the risk:

I like snails.

I don't mean I like the taste of them in garlic butter, I mean I like them as interesting petty creatures. When I notice them, I love the style their little long eyes motility most like small antennas.

They curiously poke the air and so rapidly disappear within their shell when sensing danger. Slugs may non be as cute, but I think of them as divorced snails, shuffling along and complaining that their partner 'got the house'.

So when I think of means to 'get rid of them', I'thousand facing a dilemma.

Every bit much as I become aroused when my plants have been attacked by them, I know they are part of nature and the eco system.

I don't want to use slug pellets because they are poisonous to birds and other wild animals. Instead I have tried alternative organic methods to control them and nearly of them are home-made, from things that you lot can find in your kitchen or easily bought online or from garden centres.

Natural Slug Command Methods

1. Nematodes

This is ane of my preferred methods of slug and snail control. Nematodes are tiny organisms that basically cause the death of slugs by bacterial poisoning and are completely harmless to pets or children. They are not cheap, but they are very effective. The just trouble I found is that as my garden is non small, I didn't purchase enough to cover all of it. Simply I would say that information technology's the most constructive style to control slugs. It's not equally effective on snails though, as they live over ground and the nematodes work hole-and-corner.

two. Beer traps

I have tried this and it was a nifty success. Yous fill pocket-size traps with beer and sink them into the soil and so that the edges are flush with the ground. The snails and slugs are attracted by the beer and fall into the trap, literally. Yet, yous do have to accept a strong tum when elimination the traps. The sight and smell of stale beer and dead slugs is not something I volition remember fondly. For that reason, I haven't used this method again.

three. Coffee grounds

This is something I haven't tried myself, simply I idea information technology was worth mentioning as I've heard other people have had some success with this. All it involves is scattering used coffee grounds around any plants y'all want to protect and apparently the caffeine in the grounds is toxic to slugs. With the amount of coffee I drink, I doubt I'll run out of supplies so I'll give it a try and report back to you.

4. Copper tape

I must admit, I oasis't had much success with this one. Yous tin buy sticky copper tape from almost garden centres or even online and you stick information technology to the rim of found pots that you desire to protect. The copper emits an electrical charge when the slugs or snails try to cross over it to get to the plant. That's the theory but my slugs and snails must exist made of sterner stuff than others because they didn't find this a problem. So this method gets a thumbs down from me unfortunately. If you have had any success with this, I would dearest to hear from you lot!

v. Vaseline

This works as a barrier method around plant pots. Simply smear a proficient layer of Vaseline around the rim of the plant pot and this stops the slugs from getting to the constitute. If you don't have Vaseline to hand, Petroleum jelly or Vicks volition do only every bit well.

half dozen. Grapefruit trap

A very simple way to brand a trap for slugs and snails is to use half a scooped out grapefruit peel and identify information technology face down most the plants you lot want to protect. Slugs like night damp places and volition find their way into the hollowed out grapefruit. Check the next day and see if at that place are any snails or slugs underneath. Plainly you could besides use half oranges or lemons. Personally, I had all sorts of other bugs in them but found no slugs. Not certain if this has worked well for others only it's an easy thing to try.

7. Torchlight search

This is a relatively easy way to control slugs and snails only also time-consuming. Snails and slugs tend to come out in the evening, especially if information technology's damp and this is a adept time to become out with a container and a torch and just hand-choice your fiddling enemies.

viii. Attract predators

A very easy and benign manner to control slugs and snails is to attract wildlife that feeds on them. Attracting birds by providing bird tables and water is a practiced mode of controlling their numbers. If you can build a pond in your garden and attract newts and toads who honey to eat them, you lot can control their numbers. Hedgehogs are likewise great animals to attract in your garden and will assistance keep the snail numbers down.

nine. Crushed egg shells

This is so far the best method that has worked for me, together with the nematodes. Every time I make an omelette or use eggs, I continue the shells to dry on a container that I keep particularly for this purpose. Once they are completely dry (some people dry them in the oven), yous tin can crush them finely and store in an airtight container. I observe a pestle and mortar easiest to grind them. In one case I have a good quantity of crushed egg shells, I sprinkle a skilful layer around plants that are vulnerable to slugs and snails. In my garden, lupins are the slugs favourite, but last year they managed to grow nicely thanks to the crushed egg shells effectually them. Notice how to set your egg shells and other useful tips here.

ten. Garlic and Chilli Spray

I've heard a lot of proficient things about this method, so this is something I'thou going to try myself. All you need is a modest jug or jar, fill it with 2 or three finely chopped garlic cloves and half a teaspoon of chilli ability or some chilli flakes. Add a few drops of washing upwardly liquid (only a few drops, you lot don't desire a soapy mixture). Pour boiling h2o over the chilli and garlic and allow this all sit overnight and infuse. The next twenty-four hour period all yous need to do is to strain the liquid and pour information technology into a spray bottle. Yous tin can now use this spray to treat your plants. Make sure you don't utilise this on very hot sunny days as this may burn the plants, and don't do information technology if information technology is going to rain as this will wash off the garlic solution. Couldn't exist easier, right?

Slug resistant Plants

You lot could always establish a garden full of snail resistant plants. There seem to be some plants that slugs and snails but don't bear upon. Peradventure they're not as tasty to them or maybe they are too tough. Nonetheless, this would limit your choice very much in the garden and if yous like planting vegetables, your options are really narrow.

You lot may want to incorporate some of these plants though, because information technology's always nice to feel that small sense of victory over the slugs when they go out some of your plants unharmed. In my garden I discover that my snails go out the following well alone:

Agapanthus
Alchemilla mollis (lady's mantle)
Anemone (Japanese anemone)
Antirrhinum majus (snapdragon)
Aquilegia species
Astilbe
Bergenia (elephant'southward ears)
Centaurea
Digitalis (foxglove)
Euphorbia species (spurges)
Fennel
Fuchsia cultivars
Geranium species
Geum
Hemerocallis cultivars (day lilies)
Pelargonium

Our lavender hedge, Sedums and Lambs ears also seem quite tough and of no interest to them. And so these are plants that you lot could endeavour if y'all experience you are losing your boxing with the snails. Avoid planting Hostas and Lupins equally they seem to be similar a magnet to snails and slugs, at to the lowest degree in our garden.

I think everybody will accept different experiences with their own battle against these pests and sometimes it'southward a matter of trial and error and working out what works best in your own garden.

Every garden is unlike so what works for one may not work for another but I hope you find your magic method and if you do, delight tell everyone!

I hope this post has helped and you notice the method that works best for yous.  Let me know what you think in the comments. If y'all have any questions, I volition try my best to assist out.

PS. One small-scale request: if you enjoyed reading this, please share it 🙂 A share would really help a lot with the success of this blog. It won't take long and I would be so grateful. Please pin, tweet or share on Facebook. Thanks and so much!

*This post may contain affiliate links.

mosspromento.blogspot.com

Source: https://sweetlifeandlemons.com/how-to-get-rid-of-slugs-in-your-garden-the-natural-way/

Share this post