How to Kill Slugs in the Garden With Ammonia

The slug is one of the most troublesome pests in home gardens, according to the University of California Statewide Integrated Pest Management Program. Slugs have a taste for woody or herbaceous plants but also may eat fruits when low enough to the ground. In some cases, slugs have been known to destroy a small, young garden bed before the plants mature. Slug control can be difficult because they typically emerge only at night and repellents are not always be effective. The slugs must spotted and killed on site.

Things You'll Need

• Ammonia
• Spray bottle

Instructions

1. Mix a solution of 1 part ammonia to 10 parts water in a clean spray bottle. Screw the lid on the bottle and shake it to mix the two ingredients.

2. Spray the ammonia solution directly on the slugs to kill them. Three to five sprays of the solution should be enough to kill one slug.

3. Drop the live slugs in a bowl filled with the ammonia solution if they are inside the garden or in close proximity to plants. The ammonia can kill or damage plants, so it's not worth the risk of accidental exposure. Because slugs are slippery, it may be desirable to wear rubber gloves or scoop up them with a stick.

References

• University of California IPM: Snails and Slugs Management Guidelines
• Colorado State University Extension; Slugs; W.S. Cranshaw; March 2008
• Ohio State University Extension; Growing Hostas - Hostas Pests; Gretchen Heinke, et al.