How to Repel Slugs & Snails

Keep snails and slugs away from your plants.

Slugs and snails are often a menace in the home garden. They damage plants and make establishing a new garden difficult. To control the slugs and snails, you can trap and kill them, but you can also repel them from your garden. Incorporate several methods to repel the slugs and snails and you will notice a decrease in their activity, thereby allowing your plants to thrive.

Things You'll Need

• Garden rake
• Soaker hose or drip irrigation system
• Wood ash
• Copper sulfate
• Copper flashing
• Copper bands
• Slug repellents

Instructions

1. Clean up the garden. Remove leaves, sticks, wood, garden ornaments and anything else that retains moisture in the soil and where slugs and snails are likely to hide under.

2. Remove mulch during the growing season when slugs and snails are a problem. You will need to water your plants more frequently and keep up with the weeds in the absence of mulch.

3. Water your garden with soaker hoses or drip irrigation which uses less water so the garden will not be as moist afterward. No matter how you water, it’s better to water in the morning so the soil and leaves have time to dry out during the day.

4. Create a barrier around your plants that repels snails and slugs. You have several choices. Sprinkle a 1-inch high and 3-inch wide pile of wood ashes or copper sulfate around your plants and trees. Install copper flashing around the garden or install copper bands around planters or trees. You can also use a commercial slug repellent, such as one that is made from coconut oils.

References

• Colorado State University Extension; Slugs; W.S. Cranshaw; March 2008
• University of California; Snails and Slugs; M. L. Flint, et al.; November 2009
• University of California; Controlling Snails and Slugs in the Home Garden; Michelle Le Strange; Jan. 2003