Proven folk remedies for fighting slugs in the garden

If slugs are rapidly multiplying in your garden or dacha, you must immediately take control or eradication measures, otherwise there's no chance of saving your harvest. You won't be able to eradicate them all, as they easily migrate from neighboring plots and gardens. Many different methods have been developed for controlling these mollusks, and we recommend familiarizing yourself with some of them.

Reasons why slugs appear in the garden

In natural conditions, the development of slugs is limited by weather factors, diseases and natural enemies.

They can get to the summer cottage in the following ways and for the following reasons:

• together with seedlings of cultivated plants;
• uncultivated soil;
• there are a lot of fallen leaves on the site.

Signs of slug infestation

The slug is a close relative of the snail, but unlike the latter, it lacks a shell. It is a fairly common pest of vegetables and fruits in Russia. The mollusk moves along the surface of the soil by contracting its muscles. You can tell it has become an unwanted neighbor by seeing gnawed leaves on vegetable plants, or holes in tubers, fruits, and root vegetables.

The pest's body is covered in liquid mucus on all sides, leaving a shiny trail behind as it moves across the ground. The mollusk's head has horn-like tentacles, which also contain its eyes. The slug has a very good appetite. With its sickle-shaped mouth and tongue, which is rich in small teeth, the mollusk scrapes food from any surface.

The slug is polyphagous and feeds on almost all garden and horticultural crops, including the following:

• tomatoes;
• green crops;
• cabbage;
• cucumbers;
• any berries;
• Flowering plants.

In years characterized by drought, slug numbers drop significantly. The mollusks produce few offspring, eat less, and therefore cause little damage to crops. During unfavorable periods, slugs wrap themselves in a cocoon and wait for good weather.

During rainy periods, slugs are especially active. As they move around the area, they can transfer pathogens from diseased plants to healthy ones.

Damage from slugs

These are very serious plant parasites. During daylight hours, when it's hot and dry, they hide in cool and humid hidden areas of the garden. At night, after dew appears, or during periods of precipitation, the slugs venture into vegetable gardens and begin feeding on the leaves of cultivated plants and ripening crops.

Most often, slugs prefer to feed on fruit, vegetable and ornamental crops, affecting all vegetative parts.

Fighting slugs in the garden

Most amateur gardeners try to combat these pests without using chemicals. There are many such methods.

Traditional methods

Home remedies have been tested, are highly effective, and are completely harmless to warm-blooded creatures and plants. Many of these remedies don't even harm the mollusks, but merely repel them from your plants.

Home remedies should preferably be used in conjunction with preventive measures such as:

• loosening the soil;
• weeding,
• thinning,
• removing weeds and plant debris from the area.

Fighting these mollusks in garden beds with folk remedies will certainly lead to the expulsion of these parasites.

Mechanical methods

The idea is to create various barriers to the migrating mollusks. These barriers can take the following forms:

1. Special plastic gutters are installed along the edges of garden beds. These gutters are filled with water, which creates an impenetrable barrier for these pests.
2. Dry bulk substances (gravel, crushed snail shells or crushed eggshells) are repugnant to these parasites, so they are used to fill the spaces between rows.
3. A special eco-friendly substance. It works on a similar principle to the previous option. The material, called Slug Stoppa Granules, is placed between plants and works throughout the summer. The granules absorb moisture and mucus, drying out the mollusks' surfaces, rendering them unable to move.
4. Plastic rims. They have a curved edge that secures them to the soil near plants, preventing pests from getting close.
5. Special traps. These are simple bowls protected by an umbrella. The trap is positioned so that the entrance is at ground level. The bowl is filled with beer or natural juice. The pleasant smell attracts slugs, and the umbrella prevents raindrops and debris from getting inside.
6. Planting vegetables in raised beds and tying them to trellises in a timely manner will also help reduce damage from pests.

Electrical method

Specialty stores sell self-adhesive copper tape from the brand Shocka. When mollusks come into contact with this device, they receive a small electric shock, which puts them into a state of shock. This will prevent them from crawling in the same areas again.

Use of chemicals

In exceptional cases, chemicals are used. Commercial companies offer granules called "Groza" and "Meta." They effectively attract and kill slugs in gardens. The downside of these products is that they are highly toxic. If any of these products enter the human digestive tract or respiratory system, serious health problems can occur.

Treating plants and soil with a 1% solution of ferrous sulfate is quite effective against these pests. Compared to previous treatments, this solution is less toxic.

Use of biological agents

Microscopic parasites of slugs exist in nature and are successfully used against these mollusks. Simply purchase the nematode Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodit (trade name Nemaslug), which parasitizes slugs and kills them.

This biological product can be used during the warm season, when the soil temperature exceeds 5 degrees Celsius. It demonstrates excellent effectiveness in conditions of high air and soil humidity.

The use of this method of influencing slugs has a number of tangible advantages:

• duration of action;
• high performance;
• safety for people and plants;
• ease of use.

The microbial solution should be diluted with water and then applied to the plants affected by slugs. The parasites will die within 6-8 days. One treatment is usually sufficient for 45 days. After this time, the treatment can be repeated.

The disadvantages of this remedy are as follows:

• the drug remains valid for 1 month;
• The product must be stored in the refrigerator before use.

Natural enemies

Slugs' natural enemies also help humans fight them. They are eagerly eaten by:

• jackdaws;
• hedgehogs;
• crows;
• frogs;
• starlings;
• poultry.

These birds can significantly reduce the slug population in your area.

Plants

There are plants in nature that don't tolerate slugs and try to stay away from them. The most common of these include the following flora:

• rosemary;
• garlic;
• laurel;
• lavender;
• sage;
• thyme;
• mustard.

If you grow them along the border of the beds, you can save the harvest.

You can make infusions from onions, garlic, or mustard and spray them on berry and vegetable crops. This will repel the pest.

Destroying such a cunning enemy as a slug is no easy task. It requires a comprehensive approach, employing a variety of options and means.

How to control slugs on cabbage

Slugs' most preferred crop is cabbage, which is where they can cause the most damage. The tender, juicy cabbage leaves are a real treat for the mollusk, and they can completely destroy the crop.

Using chemicals against these pests is highly undesirable. Instead, opt for a folk remedy. Below are the methods and products experienced gardeners use to exterminate slugs.

Spraying

It is recommended to spray cabbage against slugs with the following compounds:

1. Hot water. Cabbage can easily withstand water at 55 degrees Celsius (131 degrees Fahrenheit) without ill effects, but slugs begin to die when exposed to water at 40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit). This method is based on this temperature difference. If mollusks are visible on the leaves, heat the water to 45 degrees Celsius (113 degrees Fahrenheit) and spray. Slugs that have been exposed to the hot water and died should then be manually removed from the leaves.
2. Instant coffee. This product is an excellent slug killer. After contact with caffeine, adult slugs become inactive, and juveniles die. To spray, dissolve two portions of coffee powder in 200 ml of water and then spray the cabbage. Smelling the coffee, the slugs will retreat.
3. Salt solution. Sometimes you can use a weak solution of common salt. To do this, dissolve 100 g of crystals in 10 liters of water.
4. Infusions of individual herbs.These voracious pests also cannot tolerate the smells of certain herbs, such as:
   • marigold;
   • all types of wormwood;
   • tobacco;
   • walnut leaves.

Traps

During the day, the parasites seek refuge from the heat and unbearable sun in thickets of grass or under rocks. To catch them, you can make your own traps. The following materials are suitable:

• lumber scraps;
• slate debris;
• rough fabric;
• roofing felt;
• other junk.

After choosing a clear spot, thoroughly wet it with water and place the prepared material. The fabric should be pre-soaked in water. After a couple of days, slugs will appear under the material. Collect them and feed them to the chickens, leaving the device to continue catching parasites.

An interesting trap can be made from a plastic bottle. Crush the sides and fill it with an attractive liquid:

• honey;
• juice;
• beer.

Then, place the bottle flat between the cabbage plants. Place a stone on top to secure it. Smelling the odor, the slugs will crawl into the bottle and won't be able to escape. The traps should be inspected daily and refilled with liquid.

Lures

Another way to kill slugs is to place bait in your garden. Grapefruit peels or watermelon rinds are used to create these baits. Prepare them as follows:

• cut the fruit in half;
• extract the pulp from it;
• a hole is made in the middle of the peel.

These fruit cups are distributed cut-side down over vegetable beds in the evening. Sensing the aroma of the fruit, slugs gather under these fruit shells and rest there. Simply walk over the baited areas in the morning and destroy the parasites.

Fighting with folk remedies

As we've previously noted, home remedies have proven to be the most effective in combating these mollusks. They leave no pesticide residues in vegetables. Furthermore, they're very affordable and always readily available. Below are the most effective home remedies.

1. Wood ash. Experienced gardeners widely use ash to replenish plant nutrients and repel various pests. Sprinkling ash between rows will keep slugs at a respectful distance from vegetable beds. This is because the material sticks to the slugs' slippery bodies, preventing them from moving freely. Such protective measures should be carried out in the evening, in areas where the pests migrate. To increase effectiveness, mix the ash with an equal amount of tobacco dust or lime.
2. Salt. Table salt is also an excellent weapon against all types of slugs. Using this product on vegetable plants and flower beds can lead to soil salinization. However, salt can be used safely in compost heaps, where slugs often reside. Generously sprinkling salt on slug trails left in the compost heap will quickly drive out these voracious pests. To prevent the salt crystals from dissolving, use this method after sunset and in dry weather.
3. Soda. Sodium bicarbonate, or regular baking soda, is often used by vegetable growers against slugs. Instead of baking soda, washing soda can be used with equal success.
4. Vinegar. Vegetable growers often use acetic acid to combat these parasites. To create a working solution, you'll need 10 liters of water and 65 ml of 9% vinegar. Spray the resulting solution on the leaves and apply it to areas where the pests are concentrated. The frequency of such treatments should be limited, as they are harmful to the flora.
5. Mustard. Mustard powder is harmless to plants, but it certainly kills mollusks. Therefore, this plant-based substance is widely used against slugs.
6. Ammonia. Experienced gardeners often resort to this remedy because it's very effective. However, when applying ammonia, avoid allowing the liquid to come into contact with the plant, as it can burn the leaves. To apply, dissolve 1 liter of 25% ammonia in 9 liters of water and pour this liquid mixture into cracks on the soil surface where mollusks may live. For a thorough soil drench, double the dose of ammonia.
7. Beer. The smell of this low-alcohol drink strongly attracts mollusks. To catch them, in areas where the pests are present, bury a glass jar in the soil so that its rim is 2 cm above ground level. Fill the jar 2/3 full with beer, and place a protective umbrella on top. The slugs will be attracted to the beer, fall into the jar, and won't be able to escape. The gardener only needs to check the jar every three days and kill the pests. Then, refill the jar with fresh beer and continue catching the pests.
8. Needles. It has been established that conifer needles prevent mollusks from moving normally, pricking their delicate bodies, and they also dislike the scent of pine needles. This is why this readily available material has become so popular. Simply scatter pine needles over plant beds and the problem will be solved.
9. Barriers. You can reduce the damage caused by these parasitic creatures by creating barriers in their path using coarse sand, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, or screenings. These materials can be spread around vegetable beds, shrubs, and along the property lines in small ridges. Copper sulfate can be added to this mixture to kill the pests even faster.

There are two options for using soda:

• treating slug infestations with soda powder;
• spraying the leaves of plants with a composition consisting of 9 liters of water, 40 g of soda ash and 20 g of soap.

Mustard has 2 uses:

• dry powder application;
• spraying with mustard infusion (150 g mustard, 10 l water and leave for 2 hours).

The best remedy for slugs

There's a very simple, straightforward way to combat slugs, and it's perhaps the best. The familiar polyethylene film is used. You can use bags of any thickness, pieces of polyethylene left over from dismantling a greenhouse, or even black film.

Slugs love smooth surfaces because they're easier to move on. And for their next overnight stay, they're more likely to choose a slippery plastic bag than a rough leaf.

In this regard, proceed as follows:

1. Immediately after planting, at night, pieces of film are placed between the rows, pressing them down slightly with boards to prevent them from being blown away by the wind.
2. In the morning, collect the film and rinse it in a bowl of water. Any slugs that have collected under the film will eventually end up in the bowl. By doing this daily, you'll be completely free of them in a couple of months.

If you don't have the time to deal with these voracious creatures daily, then lay plastic between your vegetable rows in the spring. Every time you visit your dacha, you'll be collecting slugs. Some of them will already have died from the extreme temperatures created under the plastic.

Prevention

To prevent the widespread spread of slugs on your property, you need to take a number of preventative measures:

1. The garden needs to be dug up regularly, the grass around it needs to be mown, and weeds and tops need to be removed.
2. Thinning plants is also considered a good preventative measure to control the pest's population. These creatures do not tolerate open and dry areas.
3. After finishing the vegetable harvest, you should try to clear the soil of rotting and dry tops, under which slugs like to gather.

There are plants whose smell is repulsive to slugs, and thanks to these flora representatives, you can preserve your harvest:

• parsley;
• mint;
• chicory;
• garlic;
• lavender;
• mustard.

The listed plants are placed along the border of the garden plot, as well as between the beds.

But the best way to control the number of slugs is:

• birds;
• hedgehogs;
• frogs.

They're fairly easy to attract. Birdhouses and feeders should be installed in trees. Frogs will naturally appear if you create a small pond with rotting leaves on the bank. Hedgehogs won't leave your property for long if you feed them cookies and milk periodically. If you can attract these creatures to your dacha, your slug problem will be solved.

You can effectively limit the number of slugs in your garden by using traditional methods. And if you combine home remedies with recommended preventative measures, you'll be rid of slugs in no time and growing a high-quality harvest. It's also crucial not to wait until slugs multiply and consume all your vegetables, but to address them immediately, as soon as you notice signs of these pests in your garden.