Gardenbuddies.com-Where friends meet to share their gardens

Mean old slugs.

Garden Forum » Pest and Diseases in the Garden Forum » Mean old slugs. « Previous    Next »

Author Message
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Apollyon  Send Apollyon a private message!




My Favorite Photo
My Weather
My Garden
Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2007 - 10:48 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

They're gettin mah plants! How should I deal with this? Are there any homemade methods other than the inverted 2 liter bottle filled with beer?

Apollyon - Virginia/Hampton, Zone "7b"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Growit  Send Growit a private message!




My Favorite Photo
My Weather
Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2007 - 12:59 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

You could use crushed garlic in solution. Water it around the plants you want to keep them off of. It will kill and deter without any detrimental affect on your plants.

Growit - Hampshire, Zone "8/9"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cindym  Send Cindym a private message!




My Weather
Posted on Sunday, May 27, 2007 - 07:37 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

The beer traps are stinky and messy to dispose of. Diatomaceous earth sometimes works, but for a surefire cure try some Escar-Go! http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=2111

Cindym - LA, Zone "8b"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Plantynut  Send Plantynut a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Garden Journal
My Weather
My Garden
My Time
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2007 - 05:04 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I use Sluggo or anything I can find with iron phosphate. It's non toxic to pets and us and also good for the plants.

Plantynut - New York, Zone "7"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Cindym  Send Cindym a private message!




My Weather
Posted on Monday, May 28, 2007 - 09:04 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Yup, Sluggo and Escar-Go! are both made with iron phosphate. Super safe and works like a charm!

Cindym - LA, Zone "8b"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Algoresux  Send Algoresux a private message!


My Weather
Posted on Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 12:50 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I use Bug-Getta but I grind it up into a powder as even a tiny particle in enough to destroy these disgusting invaders. (all destructive slugs in the US are imported) I also keep the stuff in glass jars since the metaldehyde (the active ingredient) slowly evaporates. Ground up like that, a little goes a long way. I grind it on a concrete step with a brick.

Algoresux - New York, Zone "6b"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Ladycamelia  Send Ladycamelia a private message!




My Weather
Posted on Sunday, October 28, 2007 - 05:28 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I also use crushed egg shells: Eat eggs, bake the shells in the oven for a bit until they are brown and hard, crush shells, sprinkle them around your plants.

In a pinch I've been known not to bake them.

They also add calcium as they break down.

Ladycamelia - PA, Zone "6"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Chicken  Send Chicken a private message!


My Weather
My Time
Posted on Saturday, March 01, 2008 - 10:57 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Ed Hume sells this border edge that repels slugs. If your garden is 'border-able' you could run that around for a season-long fix. It was relatively inexpensive. I have raised veggie beds so use it around the sides.

OR, my favorite slug attack: dilute amonia 1:1 or 1:2 and spray the slugs every time you see them, under every surface where they hide, etc. DON'T SPRAY YOUR PLANTS - probably burn them. I just keep my squirt bottle with me when I'm working and shoot those slugs every time I see them. This time of year when I'm cultivating/cleaning up the beds I look for slug eggs and spray those. Seems to be keeping the numbers down a bit. I also leave boards/newspaper out at night and collect the slugs in the am. (Or you could go out at night with a flashlight and spray the gazillion slugs that are out after dark.)

Chicken - Washington, Zone "7"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stephie  Send Stephie a private message!


Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 09:52 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have used ashes (works until it rains), eggshells (didn't work for me), beer (too labor intensive), copper tape (works but you have to get wide strips because I caught slugs "humping" over it), I even got desperate and used crushed glass around my ligularia (it got eaten anyway) and black sand-blasting sand (sort of works). Two things worked...one enough to have a decent garden and one that simply worked all round.....surrounded my garden with sacrificial lettuces (1) and Safer's Slug Bait (2). I also devised a stick with a blade on it and chopped their little heads off every morning but...yucck...puts you off your eggs. Oh, another solution...ducks and chickens...then you have other problems!!!!

Stephie
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Carol23  Send Carol23 a private message!

Supporting Member

Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 11:03 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Escar-Go, Sluggo work well as others have recommended. With warmer weather and moisture the slugs come out in force.
I once applied diatomaceous earth over Salvias under attack from slugs. At night there were slugs climbing up the foliage in spite of the plants being white with dust.

Carol23 - Southeastern PA, Zone "6B"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Growit  Send Growit a private message!



Supporting Member

My Favorite Photo
My Weather
My Time
Posted on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 06:44 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

Stephie wrote on Sunday, March 02, 2008 - 09:52 am:

I also devised a stick with a blade on it and chopped their little heads off every morning

LOL!!! You sound as desperate as me stephie. I have been known to go out with a kebab stick, spear the little darlings and leave them next to my bird table as a tasty slug kebab for my mistle thrushes!

Growit - Hants UK, Zone "8/9"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Stephie  Send Stephie a private message!


Posted on Monday, March 03, 2008 - 03:43 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

LOL! Once on Fear Factor, they had to eat slugs...I said...that would be quits for me....seen what comes out too many times! Also, did you know slugs are dangerous to eat (but not for birds)? Like....that's hard to resist! Oh, just in case I'm wetting your appetite, so are uncooked grasshoppers.

Stephie
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Bunting  Send Bunting a private message!


Posted on Monday, March 03, 2008 - 04:14 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I've used it and beer does work. I use small little dishes, pushed into the soil and fill them with beer, real beer.
I have seen as many as 25 slugs per dish

BUT this is the best one works every time, cheap and easy.

One part CHEAP house hold ammonia and 9 parts water

99-cents 2 litre jug

Put it in a spray container and spray on your plants and around your plants and round rhe base of your plants and on the soil around your plants

Slugs , bugs, insects will not go near your garden and NO, the ammonia will not hurt you plants.

Actually your plants like it and will induce healthy growth

Perfect solution for slugs on hostas

Just do not eat your veggies without washing well.

I got this advice from a wonderful dutch gardener a few years ago and works 100% every time

Respray after a rain

Bunting - NS, Zone "6a"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Chicken  Send Chicken a private message!


My Weather
My Time
Posted on Tuesday, April 01, 2008 - 07:08 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

1:9 and I can spray amonia with abandon? I like it!

BTW - I have chickens and they absolutely REFUSE to eat slugs. They DO pick out lots of grubs, earwigs, etc., when I turn over the garden in the spring. After that they are banned and/or I put chickenwire around stuff. Cuz they REALLY like their veggies, berries, etc. (I put in some early spinach which was about 2 in high and forgot to barricade it - went out yesterday to discover my 'scratchers' had totally uprooted and eaten them all!)
They do make lots of manure for my compost pile :)

Chicken - Washington, Zone "7"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Duckwatcher  Send Duckwatcher a private message!




Posted on Wednesday, April 02, 2008 - 09:58 am EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I use Sluggo, works like a charm and isn't harmful to pets or the plants :)

Duckwatcher - Northern California, Zone "9b"
Top of pagePrevious messageNext messageBottom of page Link to this message

Pinkdamsel  Send Pinkdamsel a private message!




My Weather
Posted on Tuesday, April 08, 2008 - 09:01 pm EST :   Last Buddysize PhotosCopy highlighted text to new message Edit Post Delete Post Print Post

I have been having a problem with slugs recently. Last night I was out in my garden at 12 midnight with flashlight. I poured salt on the critters and yes, it did the trick, but my brug leaves are suffering as a result. :(

Today I went out and bought Lava Rocks, came back home and surrounded potted plants with Lava Rocks. I also purchased coppering wiring and encased the pot sitting on bricks. I'll be back out tonight to see if my project is working. Sure hope so. I do not want chemicals of any kind in my garden, sort of a naturalist I suppose not to mention the safety issues for humans.

I don't eat eggs so I have no shells to use.

Pinkdamsel - Louisiana, Zone "9a"

Add Your Message Here
Post:
Resize your photo Bold text Italics Center Underline Upload photo from your hard drive Change the text color Add tables to your post Create a thumbnail Gardenbuddies with webspace insert a photo into your post Insert a photo into your post Insert a clipart image Formatting Help
Make a list Align images, links, and clipart to the left Align images, links, and clipart to the right

Username: Posting Info:
Only registered GardenBuddies can post. If you do not see your post the way you intended it to look in the preview screen then you made a mistake. Please correct it before posting. Remember the only way to link to an image is the following: \imagelink{Http://www.yoururl/yourflower.jpg}
Password:
Options: Enable HTML code in message
Automatically activate URLs in message
Action: or

Topics Legal