How to rid your garden of slugs and snails

Slugs and snails! These creepy crawlers chew and destroy gardens on a nightly basis. Fight back with salt, beer or any of the many products available in stores.

photo by Christine

An obvious sign of snails and slugs in a vegetable garden are leaves with holes in them. In advanced cases, entire leaves may be chewed away. In order to save the plants, something has to be done. Snails and slugs are not going to leave on their own. They will lay their eggs deep in the ground and hundreds of babies will emerge in the spring. They grow quickly and are voracious eaters.

If there are no hedgehogs or frogs in the area of your garden, it’s time to get out natural or not so natural resources to rid of slugs and snails.

Instructions

Step 1

Look for evidence of slugs and snails, such as chewed leaves, or leaves filled with holes. Slime trails on the ground are another obvious sign.

Step 2

Check the garden at night. These creatures like dark, damp environments and are unlikely to be found during the day. Examine the underside of leaves. Pick these pests off and dispose of them in the method of your choice.

Step 3

Remove large stones and rocks, flowerpots, loose leaves, and dead branches, all of which are attractive hiding places.

Step 4

Bring on the frogs! Frogs love to munch on these slimy gastropods (as do chickens!).

Step 5

Spread broken eggshells or table salt on the ground around plants. Eggshells are difficult for them to crawl over. Salt will dissolve them.

Step 6

Place small dishes or pans of beer in several locations, close to the ground so they can easily crawl in and drown. They are drawn by the beer.

Step 7

Distribute slug/snail pellets around each plant as a last resort.

Snail Farm (Part 21)

During the last few days there has been a lot of rain. The snails and slugs have loved it, and have been out eating our crops. So one night I went out and caught as many as I could. I ended up catching hundreds which we are going to feed to the chickens.

Things Needed

Flashlight

Table salt

Egg shells

Shallow dish or pan

Beer

Frogs! (optional)

Tips & Warnings

Wear gardening gloves if the idea of touching a slug or snail is objectionable.

Put out a bit of beer for the slugs and snails in the evening. Sit back, relax and pour a bit for yourself.

Slug pellets are toxic. Handle with care. Keep children and pets away from the garden when using them, and store the pellets safely.

How to keep snails and slugs out of the vegetable garden

photo by John R.

by Tim Harry

A vegetable garden can cause an intense sense of pride from its grower. Large lettuces and long carrots can be shown off, and then eaten, but only if the grower gets there before the garden pests do. ...More>
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Comments (1 to 2 of 2)

Kathleen Richardson

Apr 03, 12 at 01:11 PM

Excellent "hands-off" idea for de-slugging, Perpeptua.

Perpeptua Pinkham

Apr 03, 12 at 08:38 AM

I pay the kids their pocket money fro picking them off my vegetables!

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Kathleen Richardson
Helium member since Mar 28, 08
Number of Guides: 23

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Natural ways to control slugs in the yard and garden

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