I have found that if I spray the tiny slugs with a 50 percent solution of ammonia to water, I can save a lot of damage. Does anyone have a plan that works to rid the garden of adult slugs? I handpick each morning but it doesn't seems to deplete the supply! Thanks.
Comment Guidelines
We welcome your feedback on Houseandhome.com. H&H reserves the right to remove any unsuitable personal remarks made about the bloggers, hosts, homeowners and/or guests we feature. Please keep your comments focused on decorating, design, cooking and other lifestyle topics. Adopt a tone you would be willing to use in person and do not make slanderous remarks or use denigrating language. If you see a comment that you believe violates any of the guidelines outlined above, please click “Alert a Moderator.” Thank you.
I had mine sprayed by a pro. no more slugs after 2 applications.
I use diactomacous earth (fossil flour) on my hostas. It lasts more than one year. We use it on the farm to feed young calves so find it at a farm outlet.
Living in the rainforests of BC, I have tangled with my share of the slimy, spineless creatures. Salt's an old one, but not good for the surrounding soil. I've never tried it, but ammonia can't be good for the good guys either.
My favorite solution is diamataceous earth [there's a mouthful!]. It consists of ground-up fossils [the same stuff as in pool filters]. This isn't poisonous but is harmful if inhaled. This product works by dusting your plants where you have slug damage. The next time the slugs come by for a snack they are sliced to bits by the ground dust. It does need to be re-applied after rain. I try to dust underneath the big hosta leaves, where it's a little more protected. All the commercial cylindrical "bug killers" are the same thing - ants, crawling insects, etc. Check the percentage of active ingredient on the label for your best deal.
A completely-harmless-to-all-other-species technique is to use copper wire or banding. The idea is to create a slug-free zone and then surround it with a strip of copper. This works best for raised beds or containers.The chemical reaction of the slug mucous mixing with the copper causes a shock that should deter most slimers.
Lastly, I find it best to leave the bodies where they lay. One garden, I went on a slug-killing spree with a sharp stick - leaving the corpses. Surprisingly, I was never bothered by them again. I think it was the "elephant graveyard" mentality.
Best of Luck and Happy Slugging!