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Most of the commercially available poisonous pellets, liquids, or granules aimed at pesky snails and slugs may also prove toxic to pets, children, and wildlife. Since slugs and snails love yeast, this article will show you a great child and pet-friendly means for dealing with them in your garden.

  1. The jar must be deep enough to keep the slugs and snails from crawling out. You can also buy containers (traps) designed specifically for this purpose at garden supply stores. [1] A suggested mixture is two cups of warm water, a packet of dry yeast, and one teaspoonful each of salt and sugar. The salt will help ensure that the slugs and snails die before they have a chance to escape. If you're going to dump the slugs and/or mixture in your garden or compost pile, skip the salt; it'll make your soil too salty. [1]
  2. This is best done in the vegetable patch or other garden space where the slugs and snails are patrolling. [2]
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  3. Put these traps throughout your garden at intervals of six to eight feet, since the yeast won't draw them in from any further than that.
  4. They will have crawled into the jar and drowned. You can leave them in the garden to decompose and contribute to the organic matter of the soil, or put them in a compost pile (either way, crushing them will hasten the process, if you are not squeamish about doing so). [3]
  5. It will be impacted by rain and evaporation, so top it up as needed. [4]
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  • Question
    How close to the rim should I fill the jar? If I fill it too high, won't the slugs simply drink from it without falling in?
    Community Answer
    Yes, if you fill it too high, the slugs can simply drink it. Fill it up about 3/4, and you should be okay!
  • Question
    Does champagne work for snails and slugs?
    Community Answer
    Yes, but you can use beer because it is cheaper.
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      Things You'll Need

      • Brewer's yeast or powdered yeast
      • Sugar
      • Warm water
      • Jar
      • Digging implement

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      Reader Success Stories

      • C. Rich

        Aug 9, 2016

        "I appreciate the recipe for the mixture and the directions given on how to lay out the trap in the garden. It was ..." more
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