Make a Slug Trap With Beer
- Before bed, pop open a bottle of beer and relax on your patio. Drink your beer, but don’t drink it all. Leave about an inch of beer in your bottle.
- Then take your almost empty beer bottle and lay it on its side in the garden. ...
- In the morning, you will return to a bottle filled with dead slugs.
How can I control slugs in my garden?
Place it around planters and pots or in perennial beds to control slugs in areas that are rarely disturbed by digging or harvesting during the growing season.
Do beer traps kill slugs in the garden?
Garden plants and flowers are most vulnerable to slug attacks when they are young and tender. Once the plants are established, killing slugs with beer traps can become unnecessary. If you’re no longer seeing snail trails on your plants, it’s time to gather up the containers and recycle them.
How do you kill slugs with eggshells?
Crush the eggshells, and then scatter the eggshells and coffee grounds around the area you want to protect from slugs. The coffee grounds are a natural pesticide against slugs, and crushed eggshells will cut up the undersides of any slug trying to go over it.
How to trap slugs and snails in a bottle?
Now invert the top half / cone of the bottle in to the bottle base so that the tapered part of the bottle is pointing down. This provides a lip to prevent the slugs and snails from slithering back out of the trap. Add alcohol to the trap, either cheep cider, beer or left over wine will suffice.
How do you get rid of slugs in the garden?
How to get rid of slugs:Get plants on side. ... Remove shelter & encourage beneficial wildlife. ... Make a beer trap. ... Create a prickly barrier. ... Create a slippery barrier. ... Lay down copper tape. ... Place a lure. ... Apply nematodes to soil.More items...•
What liquid attracts slugs?
Slugs love beer, milk, and most sugary and yeasty liquids, and are attracted by the smell. It's easy to make a beer trap – just sink a shallow pot, like an old yogurt pot, into the ground at the edge of your crops, and fill with beer. The slugs will be attracted to the trap, sup the beer, and drown.
What attracts slugs the most?
Two key things attract slugs: food and moisture. Unfortunately for gardeners, just about every plant – vegetables and flowers in particular – can serve as food for slugs. They are definitely not picky eaters! Any area that stays moist during the day or during lengthy hot spells will be attractive to slugs.
What are slugs attracted to in the garden?
Wet or damp soil is the number one thing that attracts slugs to the garden. Slugs tend to dry out very quickly, and they love living (and eating!) in a location that stays consistently moist.
How do you make a homemade slug trap?
0:492:042 Min. Tip: How to Make a Cheap Waterproof Slug Trap (DIY Slug Trap)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAll you need is a plastic container with a lid just cut slits around the side of the container. LikeMoreAll you need is a plastic container with a lid just cut slits around the side of the container. Like this make sure to keep the bottom of the slits an equal distance from the bottom of the container.
Where do slugs go during the day?
Slugs and snails hide in damp places during the day. They stay under logs and stones or under ground cover. They also hide under planters and low decks.
Why is my garden full of slugs?
You will find snails and slugs in greatest abundance after rains and after you water your plants. Snails and slugs need protection from winter cold. Although most of the slugs and snails you will find in your garden can survive a few degrees of frost, extreme winter cold will kill them.
What can I use for slug bait?
Cucumber slices, soaked oatmeal, and porridge are good baits, too. Melon or orange peel with some fruit leftovers inside also attract slugs. In general, you could observe what preferences your slugs and snails have. If you use several traps in your garden, it is easy to study how attractive different baits are.
How do you make a garden snail trap?
1:132:29Get Rid of Snails and Slugs with This Trap - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipOpen the beer bottle. And then pour the beer right into the cup. This creates the beer Trappe.MoreOpen the beer bottle. And then pour the beer right into the cup. This creates the beer Trappe.
What do slugs hate most?
There are certain plants that slugs hate like the strong smell of mint, chives, garlic, geraniums, foxgloves and fennel. Plant them around the edge of your garden to keep them out. These plants also discourage Japanese beetles.
What is the best slug repellent?
So here's my tried and tested top 10 ways to naturally control slugs and snails:Eggs shells and sea shells. ... Diatomaceous earth (DE). ... Copper tape. ... Slug repellent plants/Slug attractive plants. ... Recycled wool waste pellets. ... Nematodes. ... Wheat bran/Corn Bran. ... Nature Friendly Slug Pellets.More items...•
Where do slugs come from at night?
In addition, most slugs are typically active at night because it's cooler and more humid (plus there are fewer predators to hunt them). If they know there is a food source nearby (such as your garden), they will hide nearby until the dampness returns.
How to get rid of slugs in garden?
Vegetable peelings and kitchen waste are useful when it comes to how to compost, but they can also help you to attract and then dispose of slugs. It's an easy way to try and keep control of what slugs are eating in your garden. Here's how to do it: 1 Leave a pile of leafy kitchen compost such as lettuce leaves in a damp and shady corner to attract large numbers of slugs. 2 Check the garden at night by torchlight to catch them congregating. 3 As they gather, scoop them up and dispose of them.
How to get rid of slugs in potted plants?
Get rid of slugs on potted plants with petroleum jelly. Petroleum jelly can help protect potted plants from slug damage. The slippery texture makes it difficult for a slug to grip onto a surface. Just apply it in a band around the rim of your flower pots, container gardening ideas, and even the stalks of your plants.
What animals eat slugs?
Experts at the Royal Horticultural Society explain, 'Some birds, frogs, toads, hedgehogs, slow-worms and ground beetles eat slugs and these predators should be encouraged in gardens.'.
What flowers can slugs destroy?
7. Avoid planting certain flowers. Hostas, delphiniums, lupins and dahlias can get shredded by armies of slugs. Much as we love them, slugs love them more, so be prepared for a constant battle on your hands if you choose to fill your garden with them. Lettuce also needs TLC as it's catnip for slugs.
What repels slugs?
Slugs find the gritty edges uncomfortable against their soft flesh. 4. How to get rid of slugs with seaweed. Seaweed, both fresh and powdered, is a winning natural repellent for slugs, and the bonus is it’s great for slugs as well.
Do slugs eat plants?
Slugs love to feed on fresh green growth such as seedlings, so the young er the plant the more susceptible it is. Experts at the Royal Horticultural Society explain, 'Slugs are widespread animals which can cause problems in the garden, eating holes in leaves, stems, flowers, tubers and bulbs.'.
Is Nemaslug safe for pets?
Nemaslug natural slug killer is readily available from Amazon and is safe to be used around children, pets and other animals, so it won't have a detrimental impact on your wildlife garden ideas. 11. How to get rid of slugs using grapefruit or melon halves.
What is the best way to kill slugs in the garden?
The added benefit of this method is that both eggshells and coffee grounds are a great natural fertilizer for your garden. 5. Use Salt to Kill Slugs.
How to get rid of slugs in my garden?
1. Discourage Slugs By Changing Your Watering Schedule. Before you begin your attempt at exterminating slugs from your garden, try to deter them from coming into the area by changing your watering schedule. Slugs are attracted to damp conditions, so don’t water your garden in the evening.
How to get slugs to eat beer?
3. Make a Slug Trap With Beer 1 Before bed, pop open a bottle of beer and relax on your patio. Drink your beer, but don’t drink it all. Leave about an inch of beer in your bottle. 2 Then take your almost empty beer bottle and lay it on its side in the garden. Slugs are attracted to the yeast in beer, and they will gravitate to it throughout the night. 3 In the morning, you will return to a bottle filled with dead slugs.
How to catch slugs in the morning?
Then water directly around your trap. The slugs will gravitate to the damp pots and wood throughout the night. In the morning, turn over your trap and the underside will be covered with slugs.
How to protect slugs from copper?
If a slimy slug’s body crosses a copper barrier it will receive a small electric shock. You can purchase copper tape to place around the area you want to protect from slugs. The tape needs to be at least two inches thick to be effective for slug control. This method may work for the protected area, but it can be pretty expensive. Also keep in mind that it won’t kill the slugs, just shock them so they will still be around to find another place to feast in your garden.
How to protect plants from burning?
Mix 1 part ammonia with 5 parts water in a watering can. I have seen suggestions for stronger solutions, but with a 1:5 ratio, there is a smaller chance of burning the tender foliage of the plants you are trying to protect. At dawn or dusk, walk around your garden and water all the plants in sight. 3.
What to do with dead slugs in the morning?
In the morning, you will return to a bottle filled with dead slugs. If drinking the beer isn’t your thing, you can also bury a couple of shallow dishes in your garden. Then fill the dishes with beer before bed. Again, you will awake to dishes filled with dead slugs.
How to get rid of slugs in garden?
Slugs like to hide themselves and their eggs under weeds. Weeding your garden regularly will help to rid them from your garden. 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.
Why won't slugs go near my garden?
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.
How to supercharge your garden with Epsom salt?
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 ...
How many eggs do slugs produce?
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.
Can slugs climb in a drown?
The slugs will climb in an drown. For best results, change the beer every few days. 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.
How to get rid of slugs in a garden?
Instead of picking slugs one by one from your plants, use food or hiding places to collect them in one place, then drop them into a bucket of soapy water, feed them to your chickens or (eek!) squash them underfoot .
How to attract slugs to a board?
Tuck a 1- or 2-ft.-long piece of board under plants to create a moist, shady hiding place that’ll attract lots of slugs. Slugs are active at night, but during hot days, they retreat under mulch, rocks…or board traps. Check the trap in the afternoon, when slugs are enjoying their siesta under your board.
What fruit do slugs like?
Slugs love citrus! Buy inexpensive oranges or grapefruit (you don’t need the nicest fruit) for slug traps, or use rinds left over after you’ve squeezed some orange juice. Leave the citrus halves near vulnerable plants — the slugs usually hop off the hostas and hustle over to investigate this new offering.
Can slugs use copper strips?
Just be sure that no leaves touch the ground outside the copper strip, as slugs can use them as “bridges” to reach the rest of the plant. It’s a good idea to shine up your copper strips once in a while — research indicates that bright, shiny copper is more effectivethan strips that have begun to corrode.
Can you use copper strips in the garden?
When slugs come in contact with copper, it gives them a shock — scientists think that the slug slime reacts with the copper to produce the jolt. You can purchase copper strips and tape just for use in the garden. They’ll last for years, and you can reuse them.
How to kill slugs in garden?
How to Kill Garden Slugs. Now that you know some facts about slugs, you can use them to eliminate the slugs from your garden. Protect tender plants and seedlings – As tender plants and seedlings are a slug’s favorite food, they are also the most likely to be killed by slugs. Use diatomaceous earth, crushed eggshells or copper wire ...
What do slugs eat?
What do slugs eat – A better question than what do slugs eat would be what DON’T slugs eat. Slugs will eat any kind of vegetation but prefer tender leaves. This means that particularly tender-leaved plants or seedlings are very vulnerable to slug damage. Slugs will also eat vegetables and fruits, causing unsightly damage to crops.
What animals eat slugs?
Clean up boards and weedy areas and regularly turn rocks over to allow the undersides to dry out. Attract animals that will eat the slugs – Non-poisonous snakes and toads are the best animals to attract to your garden for slug control. These animals exclusively eat small pests and will not damage your plants.
What are some predators of slugs?
Toads, snakes, ducks, chickens and raccoons are some of the most common predators of slugs. Your best bet for healthy slug control, however, will be to attract toads and non-poisonous snakes to your garden. These slug predators will eat your slugs without potentially damaging your plants.
What are some facts about slugs?
Facts About Slugs And How To Kill Garden Slugs. Slugs are one of the most damaging pests in the garden. Given the proper environment, a family of slugs can devastate a vegetable crop in a matter of days. Understanding a few facts about slugs, like what do slugs eat, where do slugs live and what eats slugs can help you kill garden slugs in your ...
Can slugs drown in beer?
The slugs will be attracted to the tender or liquid treat. With beer, they will drown in it. With the melon rind, you can collect the melon rind (and overstuffed slugs) the next morning and dispose of them. Remove moist areas near the garden – If you have a problem with slugs, you should look at eliminating the areas near your garden ...
How to get rid of slugs in garden?
Slug Trap: Trap and Remove Slugs. To trap slugs you can put cabbage leaves, boards, wet newspaper, or cut pieces of raw potato in the garden. After a night of slug revelry, they will congregate in these damp shady spots where you can find them and dispose of them as you see fit.
What do slugs eat?
Slugs will feast on any tender plant, feeding at night and hiding during the day. They have rasping, file-like mouth parts that quickly tear large ragged holes in young leaves. A tell-tale sign of a slug attack is the silvery mucus trail they leave behind.
Can slugs resist beer?
They can’t resist the stuff! Actually any yeasty, sweet liquid will attract them, so keep the beer for yourself and make a gooey brew that the slugs will find delicious by mixing equal parts flour and water with a heaping spoonful of molasses, a sprinkling of cornmeal, and a teaspoon of yeast.
How to keep slugs out of a snail trap?
This provides a lip to prevent the slugs and snails from slithering back out of the trap. Add alcohol to the trap, either cheep cider, beer or left over wine will suffice. The scent will attract the slugs and the alcohol will kill them. Ask Question.
How to get rid of a slug in a compost heap?
wait a few days and inspect your traps. Leave there until full of the pests and then pull out the cone and empty the contents in to your compost heap as this will accelerate the decomposing. Refill with alcohol and repeat.
How to keep snails from escaping from a bottle?
The idea is to afford the largest snails to enter but leaving enough of the tapered end / neck of the bottle to prevent the slugs and snails from escaping. Cut the top of the bottle neck off with a sharp blade and scissors and clean up any jagged uneven edges with the scissors.
How to get rid of slugs in garden?
Concentrate the containers in areas of the garden where slug problems are the greatest. Pour 2 to 3 inches (5 to 7.6 cm.) of beer or beer substitute into each container. Place the lids on the containers. Check the traps regularly. Add beer or beer substitute as needed. Remove dead slugs regularly.
How to make a beer trap for slugs?
Follow these easy steps for making beer traps for slugs: Gather up several inexpensive plastic containers, preferably with lids. Recycled yogurt containers or margarine tubs are an appropriate size for making beer traps for slugs. Cut a few holes near the top of the plastic container. The slugs will use these holes to access the trap.
How to keep slugs out of plastic containers?
Cut a few holes near the top of the plastic container. The slugs will use these holes to access the trap. Bury the containers in the ground with about 1 inch (2.5 cm.) remaining above the soil line. Keeping the containers slightly above the soil level helps prevent beneficial insects from falling into the traps.
Does tilling kill slugs?
Tilling and cultivating destroys their hiding places, but this can dry out the soil and damage plant roots. Perhaps, you’ve heard of killing slugs with beer and wonder if this alternative method for non-chemical control is effective.
Can you use beer to kill slugs?
Killing Slugs with Beer Substitute. Mix the following ingredients and use in place of beer when making beer traps for slugs: Garden plants and flowers are most vulnerable to slug attacks when they are young and tender. Once the plants are established, killing slugs with beer traps can become unnecessary.
