Q&A for How to Get Rid of Garden Slugs

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  • Question
    Would peppermint oil and water mix sprayed on plants kill slugs?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Yes. It is recommended to add a few drops of the essential oil to a spray bottle full of water and spritz over infected plants, reapplying as necessary.
  • Question
    Can I use Sluggo pellets directly in my plant pots, or will this kill my plants?
    Maggie Moran
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Maggie Moran is a Professional Gardener in Pennsylvania.
    Home & Garden Specialist
    Expert Answer
    Sluggo pellets are approved for use in any and all horticulture situations, including gardens, pots, soil, sand, etc.
  • Question
    Do coffee grounds repel slugs?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Yes, coffee grounds will repel slugs since caffeine is toxic to them. Slugs will avoid coming into contact with coffee grounds at all costs, so spreading a circle of grounds around plants you want to save can be more effective.
  • Question
    Are slugs bad for your garden?
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness.
    wikiHow Staff Editor
    Staff Answer
    Most slugs are considered pests that can eat vegetables, fruit, leaves and seedlings. If you see slugs on your plants, chances are they're eating them. On the other hand, slugs prefer to eat dead or rotting plants so they can be beneficial decomposers, so if you only see them around your compost pile they probably aren't a concern.
  • Question
    Is there a time that is best to treat a garden for slugs?
    Community Answer
    No, anytime is fine.
  • Question
    Does Epsom salts work for slug control? I was told there is no salt in Epsom salts.
    Top Answerer
    Epsom salts reportedly work against slugs and as a fertilizer!
  • Question
    Should I use fine or coarse sand to deter slugs?
    Community Answer
    Use coarse sand because it is more harsh than fine sand and will create a better chance the slugs will be harmed.
  • Question
    After putting salt on slugs they shrivel up, but in the morning they have disappeared. What's happened to them?
    Community Answer
    Slugs are mostly made up of water. Salt acts as a drying agent and absorbs the mucus that provides the coat of a slug (very much like the mucus in the human nose) almost immediately. The salt will continue to dry up the water-based mass of the slug quickly through a process called desiccation.
  • Question
    Would using ground paprika deter slugs?
    Community Answer
    Paprika will not do anything to slugs. Instead, try crushing fresh garlic and soaking it in water to produce a strong garlic spray. Then, spray the plants you want to protect. Snails and slugs hate this and will leave your plants alone.
  • Question
    What mix of chemicals can I spray that won't harm my plants or birds?
    Community Answer
    Untreated straw mulch in every patch, used to build new soil creates moisture and darkness, in which slugs thrive and conquer. Sluggo certified for organic use works well, one containing iron phosphate and Spinosad A&D. You can also use concentrate called Monterey garden spray. It contains the natural spinosad. Monterey works slightly, but is better for cutworms and catepillars. If you must, try Organic Sluggo.
  • Question
    Is there a vinegar solution I can put out to rid my garden of slugs?
    Community Answer
    Yes, a solution of one part vinegar and one part water should do the trick, if not, skip the water. Just be careful as vinegar can act as an herbicide in your garden, don't spray it directly on plants.
  • Question
    How can I get rid of slugs when they are on my siding and my storm door?
    Community Answer
    The best solution is putting on some gloves on (can also be done without them) and pick them up. You could feed them to the birds or just take them away from your garden. An alternative would be to buy a spray to kill them.
  • Question
    Will a dish of cat food attract slugs?
    Community Answer
    Yes.
  • Question
    How do I get rid of worms in my grass?
    Community Answer
    I would advise not deterring worms in your grass, as they aerate the soil and add nutrition from consuming grass clippings. They also aerate the lawn and help drainage, which deters moss. They build better nutritional soil. So all in all, they benefit your lawn.
  • Question
    How do I prevent slugs from entering my house?
    Top Answerer
    Find where they're entering, and sprinkle that area with a slug deterrent as suggested above.
  • Question
    My garden is infested by what looks like a slug with a shell. Is this a slug?
    Top Answerer
    It's a snail, and it's no better for your garden than a slug.
  • Question
    I seem to have a different problem with my local slugs. They always come out at night. What should I do?
    Top Answerer
    Use any of the above suggestions. They should still work. Slugs often hide during the heat of the day and then do their damage at night.
  • Question
    How are slugs able to reproduce?
    Community Answer
    Slugs are hermaphrodites (have male and female reproductive anatomy). Slugs mate using either one of their reproductive organs. After a mating session resulting in an exchange of sperm, an impregnated slug will find a hole or hide under a log and will lay multiple eggs (usually 25-30) within only a few days of mating.
  • Question
    Is beer effective?
    Community Answer
    Yes, it's very effective but you have to continue to place the beer around the plants nightly.
  • Question
    Do eggshells get rid of garden slugs?
    Community Answer
    This is not so effective. I crushed the eggshells and spread them around the plants, and I still found a snail that had managed to cross over the crushed eggshells.
  • Question
    Will dishwater deter slugs?
    Community Answer
    No, however slug Tropicana will work (water mixed with salt).
  • Question
    Will sugar deter slugs?
    Community Answer
    No, it may actually attract more slugs.
  • Question
    Can I use egg shells to deter slugs?
    Community Answer
    Yes, you can. Make sure you wash the shells first.
  • Question
    Can I put Sluggo pellets directly into the plant pots or will this kill my plants? And do I have to turn the earth before I sprinkle onto my lawn?
    Community Answer
    There is no need for Sluggo pellets! Just grab some salt and water in a bowl, flick your slugs and snails in and watch them do back stroke.
  • Question
    Slugs are found in the kitchen during the night and we find trails on the lounge carpet. We continually destroy them. Can we deter them?
    Community Answer
    Yes. Put salt down on their trail and see if you can find the source where they entered and close up the hole.
  • Question
    Is coarse rock salt or fine ground salt better as a deterrent?
    Top Answerer
    Yes, but it's not good for the soil.
  • Question
    Will Epsom salts kill my plants?
    Community Answer
    If used as recommended, no.
  • Question
    How can I keep slugs from getting in my canary cages?
    Community Answer
    Sprinkle kosher salt in the vicinity surrounding the cage. Wait 1 day for results.
  • Question
    Will crushed eggshells get rid of slugs?
    Community Answer
    The theory is the the jagged edges will deter slugs lest they lacerate their bellies; however, in practice, eggshells do not seem to damage or deter most slugs.
  • Question
    Will crushed walnut shells deter slugs and snails?
    Community Answer
    No, they won't, unfortunately.
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