How to Get Rid of Slugs Naturally

If nasty slimy slugs have invaded your garden and are eating your crops before they have time to mature, its time to take action. There is no need to purchase costly products designed to rid your garden of slugs. Using common household products like salt, yeast, sugar, and stale beer instead of commercial products, that may contain toxins and pose threats to pets and small children, is safe and effective.

Things You'll Need

• Salt
• Sugar
• Yeast
• Stale beer
• Ammonia
• Damp board
• Egg shells
• Shingles
• Crushed rock

Instructions

Barriers

1. Create a barrier around your garden to prevent slugs from entering. A layer of broken egg shells is effective in stopping slugs before they enter your garden. The sharp edges on the shells cut the sensitive skin of the slug. Slugs soon learn it is better to simply turn around and go the other way. You can often get eggshells from your local breakfast diner. If you ask, most are more than willing to save them for you.

2. Layer old roofing shingles around the perimeter of the garden. Slugs are deterred by the rough texture that is too sharp for their body.

3. Apply a thick layer of hair around the perimeter or your garden bed. The hair will stick to the slimy mucus the slug uses to move along. Ask your local hairdresser to save the old hair for a few days and you should have more than enough.

4. Layer crushed rock around the perimeter of your garden. The sharp edges will deter slugs from entering the garden.

Baiting Slugs

1. Mix one teaspoon of baking yeast with two teaspoons of sugar in two cups of warm water. Fill a small container, like a pie plate, with the solution and set it into the ground so that the rim of the pie plate is level with the surface of the soil. Slugs are attracted to the yeasty solution and fall in and drown.

2. Follow the same procedure by filling a pie plate with stale beer.

3. Lay a damp board in your garden. Slug will crawl under the board for protection from the hot sun when daylight arrives. Overturn the board and dispose of the slugs.

Destroy Them

1. Pick slugs by hand and dispose of them by dropping them into a pail of salt water. This is best accomplished after dark with a flashlight. Slugs are nocturnal creatures and may be difficult to find in daylight.

2. Sprinkle salt onto slugs to destroy them quickly. The salt will dehydrate the slug and it will die within minutes. This method is not for the weak at heart and it will raise the salt level in your garden, so use it sparingly.

3. Mix a solution of a little household ammonia and a dash of dish detergent in a spray bottle. Spray any slugs you see.

Tips & Warnings

• Be sure to wear garden or disposable gloves before trying to pick slugs by hand. Slugs leave a nasty trail of slime on anything they touch, including you.