Slugs are present in every garden...
...and cause a lot of damage to plants and vegetable gardens.
The concern is that commercial slug killers are toxic to birds and other wildlife.
In addition, their effectiveness fades after the rain, just when the slugs are most active... So what to do against the slugs?
However, there are super effective natural slug killer products to keep them away.
These ecological repellents also have the advantage of being very inexpensive.
With these homemade slug killers, they shouldn't be in your garden for long.
Here are 13 natural, non-toxic and inexpensive tips to fight slugs naturally:
The first thing to do in slug control is to get into a good habit. The time when you are going to water your garden is important. Indeed, slugs are more active at night and even more so if the ground is humid.
So avoid watering your garden in the evening if you don't want to attract slugs. Water in the morning instead:the surface of the soil will dry out during the day. Studies show it can reduce slug damage by 80%.
If you can get some seaweed, it's worth collecting a big pile. Seaweed is not only a good fertilizer for the garden, but it is also a formidable natural repellent against slugs.
Use seaweed to mulch around the base of plants or around the vegetable bed. Put about 3 to 4 cm thick seaweed. As they dry, they will reduce.
Seaweed is salty and slugs hate salt. During periods of heat, the algae dry out and become very rough, which deters slugs. Do not put algae in direct contact with plant stems.
Small strips of copper can be placed around flower pots or raised vegetable beds. They prevent slugs from nibbling on your salads.
Cut 2 cm copper strips and wrap the bottom part of the flower pots. You can also put the strips directly on the ground or on the edge of the vegetable garden, making a slug "fence".
Check that the leaves of your plants do not make a "bridge" favoring the entry of slugs into the protected area. Copper barriers also work great around wooden barrels used as flower boxes.
There is also a non-toxic copper-based metal wick that can be wrapped around the stem of plants. It acts as a barrier against slugs.
When the slugs come into contact with the metal rod, they receive an electric shock. The mesh also serves as a physical barrier. These shields are reusable, durable and weather resistant.
Diatomaceous earth (also known as "bug dust") is made up of the skeletal remains of microscopic creatures. It is therefore an abrasive and rough substance.
It repels and eliminates fragile pests, causing them to become dehydrated. Granular diatomaceous earth can be sprayed around the garden or individual plants. It can also be mixed with water to be sprayed directly on the leaves and stems of plants.
Diatomaceous earth is still less effective when wet, so use it in dry weather. Wear protective equipment when applying, as it can irritate the eyes and lungs.
Be sure to buy natural or agricultural diatomaceous earth, not the kind intended for swimming pools, which is smoother and therefore much less effective.
The electronic mini-fence is a non-toxic and effective method of keeping slugs out of the garden or flower beds. You can make a slug barrier yourself by powering it with a 9-volt battery.
When a slug or a snail comes into contact with the fence, they receive a small shock which will dissuade them from passing. Besides, it doesn't kill them.
The battery works for about 8 months. The electronic fence repels slugs and snails, but is harmless to people and pets. Discover the video tutorial here.
Like diatomaceous earth, the abrasive surface of lava repels slugs. You can use volcanic rock as a barrier around plantations.
Place it on the ground, around the areas to be protected. Be careful not to let dirt or vegetation form a bridge that slugs will hasten to cross.
If all else fails, go out at night with the salt shaker and a flashlight. Take a walk around to see the areas with the most damage.
That should allow you to locate the slugs. Then, sprinkle some salt directly on the slug. A little barbaric, but very effective. The slug won't last long.
It is a solution to be used only as a last resort, because it leads to the death of the slug. Also, don't pour too much salt on the ground, as this will eventually make the area infertile.
Slugs are attracted to beer, which they love. Pour a small amount of beer into a small, shallow pot. Bury it, leaving only the edge protruding. The slugs will crawl out to taste the beer and fall into the container without being able to come back up.
To prevent the rain from diluting the beer, make a small shelter with the lid of the pot supported by a stick. Leave enough space for the slugs to enter the pot.
Slugs like to hide in the shade. To do this, overturn a flowerpot in the ground. Leave a small passage by placing the pot on a stone. Leave it overnight, and you'll find the slugs inside by morning.
Grapefruit halves work the same way, with a great advantage:the smell of the fruit serves as bait.
There is another trap method, perhaps the easiest of all. It's about putting a fairly wide board on the ground near the most devastated area.
Slugs will hide underneath during the day. Just flip the board during the day to pick up the culprits. You can do the same with black plastic sheeting.
Tests in the laboratory of the University of Newcastle-Upon-Tyne (UK) revealed that garlic is a super repellent against slugs. It's a super effective slug repellent. Indeed, some commercial products that fight against slugs contain garlic.
But you can also do it yourself. It's easy and really economical. Mix 2 large heads of garlic and mix the puree obtained in about fifteen liters of water. Then spray this decoction directly on the plants to be protected.
And what's more, it's a repellent against aphids:you kill two birds with one stone :) Discover the trick here.
Coffee grounds scattered on the ground deter slugs. The cool thing is that the coffee grounds also act as a plant fortifier! Use in moderation though. Check out the trick here.
A study by Nature magazine revealed that slugs and snails hate caffeine. If plants are sprayed with a caffeine solution, they are not only repelled, but often killed. In any case, it prevents them from eating the leaves of your plants.
The percentage of caffeine required in a spray is 1-2%, which is higher than what is found in a cup of coffee (0.05-0.7%). Thus, homemade blends are not completely effective. Look for organic caffeine-based sprays on the market.
You can also use crushed eggshells. Put them around areas where there are plants to protect. You have to put a good layer of it on for it to be effective.
Drying eggshells become sharp, so slugs won't dare to crawl on them. Check out the trick here.
You can buy slug repellents at garden centers. There are different brands.
These repellents typically use one of two active ingredients in their formulations:ferric phosphate and/or ferric sodium. Although both formulations are effective, there are significant differences in their toxicity.
Ferric phosphate is on the list of OMRI (Organic materials review institute) products certified for organic producers. It is non-toxic to people, pets, birds, insects, earthworms and other wildlife.
On the contrary, ferric sodium is very toxic to wildlife. The most common brand is Safers. This brand has 2 types of products, but they are packaged in similar plastic boxes. So, make sure that the chosen product contains ferric phosphate and not ferric sodium.
When applying a commercial slug repellant, apply it over a wide area far enough away from your plants. Because these baits attract slugs, but do not kill them instantly, so the slug can still damage your plants.
Have You Tried These Homemade Slug Remedies? Let us know in the comments if it worked for you. We can't wait to read you!
