5 Simple Ways to Keep Slugs Out of Your Garden
Have you noticed slugs in your garden?
Did you know that each slug can produce 36 eggs at a time, a few times a year?
Slugs are definitely not appealing and can be one of the most damaging pests when it comes to your garden. According to Organic Authority, the slug is a hermaphrodite, meaning that have both male and female reproductive systems. A slug can produce 36 eggs on their own, several times a year. That makes them a force to be reckoned with in the garden.
Slugs love to eat. Specifically they love to eat your garden and even parts of your landscape. To help save your garden from hungry slugs, we have put together the following 5 simple ways to keep them away.
How to keep slugs out of your garden
Hosta leaves damaged by slugs
- Weed Your Garden
Slugs like to hide themselves and their eggs under weeds. Weeding your garden regularly will help to rid them from your garden. - The Beer Trap
This suggestion comes from Organic Gardening. They reported that slugs are attracted to the fermented yeast in beer. Simply take a used yogurt container and pour the beer in. The slugs will climb in an drown. For best results, change the beer every few days. - Spread out Dry, Dusty, or Scratchy Material
Since slugs avoid all things dry, dusty, and scratchy material, they make perfect barriers. You can use course sawdust, gravel, or sand to help create a barrier and protect your garden. - Increase Your Plants’ Magnesium
In an article we published last month we talked about how Epsom salt can actually increase your plants magnesium levels. It also has an amazing effect on slugs and keeps slugs away from plants with high levels of magnesium. Check out the article, How to Supercharge your Backyard Garden with Epsom Salt, to find out how to do it. - Add Barriers
Spread salt on a barrier around your potted outdoor plants to help deter the slugs. Slugs will refuse to go near it because salt will actually dry them out. Be careful not to compromise the integrity of the garden soil with the salt as it will ruin the soil.Coffee grounds are a great barrier in your garden that will not damage the soil. They have the added benefit of enriching the soil with acidic pH. For more on coffee grounds, please see: 4 Ways to Reuse Coffee Grounds to Improve Your Garden.
Summary
Slugs are every gardener’s thorn in the side. You can help to keep your garden slug free by using these 5 simple ways to getting rid of slugs along with hand picking them.
Do you have a favorite way to get slugs out of your garden? Please share it with us in the comment section below.
Are you new to gardening? Check out these 8 Tips Every New Gardener Should Know.
