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Slugs in the garden seem to have multiplied incredibly because of our wet weather. This loathed pest is wreaking havoc among our favorite vegetables and flowers. You may have seen the tell-tale signs of slugs by the slime trails left in your yard. Slugs are not only unpleasant to look at, but also damage many plants by eating holes through leaves and fruit. Slugs come in many shapes and sizes; some are more devastating than others. The most damaging one is the milky slug. It is usually two to three inches long, varying in color from white to mottled gray. The milky slug lays eggs from early summer to fall and hides on the underside of its leaves. Watch out for this one, it can eat its entire body weight in plants every night! There are many ways to rid your garden of slugs. The key thing to remember is that you want to draw them away from your treasured plants. Spreading slug bait throughout your vegetable garden only draws them to your plants. In addition, toxic chemicals are not the best thing to put next to plants you want to eat. There are simple pesticide-free ways to get rid of slugs. These methods are very effective if you are very diligent. First of all, clean up any slug hiding places. They love to hide under boards, bricks, compost, pots, rocks, firewood and trash. Make your yard less attractive to slugs and more attractive to you. Also, be aware of the time that slugs are most active. Slugs usually begin feasting in the early evening, when the air is cool and moist. Don’t water in the afternoon or evening since this will make you garden even more inviting. Watering in the morning not only saves water, but also allows plants and soil to dry during the say and them less hospitable to slugs. The popular childhood experiment of pouring salt on slugs is not the most effective means control. Salt will suck moisture out of slugs and dry them to death, but it can also damage soil and plants. Ammonia will also kill slugs while damage plants. One of the best ways to keep slugs under control is to set traps. Leave a cantaloupe or orange rind sitting outside overnight and collect your prisoners off them in the morning. Boards or bricks set on the group will serve the same purpose. Marigolds and zinnias are a favorite treat of the slug. A few strategically placed sacrificial plants will trap your enemies. Believe it or not, slugs cannot resist beer. A low container filled with beer will draw crowds of slugs. Beer anesthetizes them so that they fall in the beer and drown. Make sure to clear out the container every day since it can become so full of slugs that there is no room for more!
Slugs are a crucial part of the food chain; they are lunch for
birds, frogs and many other creatures. It is important to keep them away
from treasured plants, but do not eradicate them completely. Any slug you
want to dispose of can be a slimy proposition. If you aren’t too squeamish,
picking off the slugs by hand is the simplest method. Otherwise, use gloves
or tongs. Once you have collected the slugs, chop them in half with a
shovel, or put them in a plastic bad and freeze them in an hour. Don’t let
the slugs take over, get out here and slug it out!
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SLUGGING
IT OUT