The Beer Trap Principle . The basic idea behind a beer trap is to place a small pool of liquid refreshment in your vegetable patch, adding a cover to keep rain and irrigation water out. The slugs and snails are attracted by the yeasty aroma, fall into the trap, and either drown or succumb to alcohol poisoning. If all goes well, you'll be able to trap several snails each morning, before resetting the trap and repeating the process. Building Your Own Beer Trap
Do beer traps kill slugs and snails?
Effects of Beer Traps on Slugs/Snails. Beer traps are a popular way of killing snails and slugs that invade your garden. Because slugs and snails of all kinds like beer a lot, they are lured into the traps. In fact, it is the yeast in the beer that attracts them so much.
How to get rid of snails in a trap?
Fill your trap halfway with beer. Snails aren’t picky about what sort of beer they drink. Any good brew will do! As an alternative to beer, you could mix two tablespoons of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of brewer’s yeast, one teaspoon of sugar, and two cups of warm water. Use this mixture instead of beer.
How do you build a beer trap for slugs?
Building and Maintaining a Basic Trap Find a suitable container for your beer trap. The container needs to be deep enough to allow slugs and snails to fall in without being able to crawl out again. Bury your beer trap container in your garden, keeping the rim one inch (two cm) above the soil.
What is a beer trap?
The classic beer trap is based on the idea that the baited slugs fall into the beer after drinking the intoxicating liquid and then drown in it. But that’s not always the case.
How do you make a beer trap for snails?
0:593:30How to STOP Slugs & Snails - Make a Beer Trap - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipGet the soil up to the top of the container. We add the beer. And we want to leave a 5 centimeterMoreGet the soil up to the top of the container. We add the beer. And we want to leave a 5 centimeter gap. So don't fill it all the way up to the top. The slugs and snails are attracted to the beer.
Can you use beer to get rid of snails?
0:101:36How to Kill Snails and Slugs with BEER - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that's all you have to do the snails and the slugs are actually attracted to the yeast in theMoreAnd that's all you have to do the snails and the slugs are actually attracted to the yeast in the beer. And when they find it they'll crawl in and quite simply they'll just drown in the beer.
What happens when snails drink beer?
Beer is a safe way to attract and kill slugs. The yeasty sweet smell lures them and the ethanol in the beer kills them, or they simply fall into the traps and drown. The key to a smart slug beer trap is covering it in a way that just targets the slugs that feast on your vegetables, hostas, and other favorite plants.
How do I get rid of snails permanently?
7 Ways to Get Rid of Snails in Your GardenUse Bait. ... Use Traps. ... Use Barriers and Repellents. ... Introduce Predators. ... Plant Snail-Resistant Plants. ... Kill Snails With Salt, Chemicals, or Pesticides. ... Adjust Your Watering Schedule. ... Seal all Gaps.More items...•
How do you make homemade snail killer?
Spread salt or baking soda. This is a lethal option, so, if you are trying to naturally deter snails without killing them, this is not the option to choose. Baking soda and salt dry out snails and slugs, which will kill them.
How do you make a snail trap without beer?
0:142:042 Min. Tip: How to Make a Cheap Waterproof Slug Trap (DIY Slug Trap)YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI learned a number of years ago from Barbara Pleasants YouTube channel - one cup of water I'll addMoreI learned a number of years ago from Barbara Pleasants YouTube channel - one cup of water I'll add one teaspoon of sugar one teaspoon of flour and 1/2 a teaspoon of dry yeast.
How do you permanently get rid of slugs?
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 do you put in a snail trap?
0:442:29Get Rid of Snails and Slugs with This Trap - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipNext get some oil used cooking oil will work as well put a dab of oil on a paper towel. And thenMoreNext get some oil used cooking oil will work as well put a dab of oil on a paper towel. And then coat the insides of the cup with oil this will make sure that snails.
How to get rid of a snail in a trap?
Any good brew will do! As an alternative to beer, you could mix two tablespoons of flour, 1/2 teaspoon of brewer’s yeast, one teaspoon of sugar, and two cups of warm water. Use this mixture instead of beer.
How to trap beer slugs?
1. Find a suitable container for your beer trap. The container needs to be deep enough to allow slugs and snails to fall in without being able to crawl out again. Deep containers also ensure that the beer won't evaporate too quickly. You could use a tuna tin, an empty aluminum pie tin, or a small dish.
How to keep snails out of my garden?
Bury your containers 3 feet apart in your garden with 1 inch of the rim above the soil. Then, fill each container halfway with beer and sprinkle a little yeast in it to entice snails even more. You’ll need to refill the containers every 2 or 3 days when the beer loses its potency.
How to get rid of slugs in beer trap?
2. Bury your beer trap container in your garden, keeping the rim one inch (two cm) above the soil. If the container is at or below the soil’s level, you might also kill the ground beetles that eat slugs. If the lip of the container is too high, though, the garden snails will find entering the container difficult.
Can you use beer to kill snails?
This article has been viewed 146,200 times. Believe it or not, you can use beer to get rid of snails in your garden. All you’ll need is a few cans of beer, baker’s yeast, and a few containers, like plastic drinking cups, leftover yogurt containers, or empty tins.
WHAT IS A SLUG BEER TRAP?
In order for the traps to work, slug and snails like to get drunk. Who would have thought it that these traps will attract slugs like a bear to honey?
DO THESE BEER TRAPS ACTUALLY WORK?
Slugs and snails are attracted to the smell of the beer but it is not only beer that they are attracted too. In fact, it is the yeast and water that attracts them. If you watch slugs near beer traps, you will observer that a lot of them will slime on by, whilst some will change direction and head for the traps.
DO I RECOMMEND BEER TRAPS?
As you probably gathered I am in two minds to know if you should use bear traps or not. Yes, they so keep the snail and slug population under control, but you need too many to be feasible.
What is a slug trap?
What is a Slug Beer Trap? Slugs and snails are apparently attracted to beer . If you take a small container like a tuna tin, fill it with beer, and set it on the ground. The slugs will be attracted to the beer, go for a sip, fall in and drown.
How high should a beer trap be?
Keep rims at least 1″ above soil level. Slug beer traps only attract slugs in the surrounding few feet, so you need lots of them to be effective. According to Slugoff, a company that makes a more sophisticated beer trap, you need a trap every meter (3 feet).
Do slugs climb up the side of a beer container?
They have no trouble climbing up the side of the container. A few do drop in and die, but most don’t. The slug beer traps do seem to work but there are some limitations: they work over a very short distance. most slugs will just enjoy the beer and leave.
Do slugs like alcohol?
slugs are not attracted to the alcohol, it’s the yeast or yeast by products that attracts them. different beers do work quite differently. sugar + baking yeast was as effective as some beers, but not as effective as Budweiser.
Does beer kill slugs?
The slug beer traps are modestly effective. They will kill slugs, but most will get away. I think it is a real shame to waste beer on slug traps. If you feel the need to use them, use sugar + yeast–and drink the beer! You might also like these posts on other methods for getting rid of slugs:
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.
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.
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.
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 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 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.
Is Alcohol Needed For The Traps to Work properly?
- Some people think that it’s sufficient to use malt extract and or sugar to attract the slugs. Others are convinced that the traps only work because of the toxic effect of the alcohol. They claim that the alcohol paralyzes the slugs, causing them to fall into the traps and drown. This leads to the c…
Application of Beer-Traps
- To attract the snails, small containers filled with beer are placed close to beds and plants which are under threat. It is possible to use and recycle empty yogurt cups or old cucumber glasses as containers. These are filled up about half way with beer. It is also possible to buy special beer traps, which come with a rain cover. This prevents the beer being watered down or overflowing …
Products & Prices
- Different plastic models can be bought, which all look more or less the same. But there are also some special models. Most beer traps are sold in a set because it is necessary to put a lot of them in the garden. Depending on how many traps you want to buy, the price varies from 1-3 dollars/pounds/euros per trap. As mentioned, however, I recommend other methods to catch slu…
Advantages
- The main advantage of beer traps is their low cost. Any household that has a spare beer to hand can immediately start to set traps up in the garden. The effort required is relatively low, and traps can even be homemade. And of course, your neighbors will also be happy, since you are luring the slugs out of their garden into yours!
Conclusion
- Beer traps are clearly not an effective or sustainable solution for preventing slugs and snails invading your garden. In fact, they can aggravate the situation even more, since many slugs are attracted from far away by the smell of yeast. This is why a slug problem cannot be prevented with beer traps. All attractants are a double-edged sword. This also applies to slug pellets/baits. …
Further Methods to Control Slugs and Snails
- Copper Against Slugs Slug barriers Schnexagon:Slug Deterrent Paint Slug Collars Slug Resistant Flowers Snail and Slug Resistant Vegetables Peaceful Slug Control & Plant Protection Last update: April 3, 2021 Did you find what you were looking for? If not, please leave a message or a comment. I will try to help you and to improve the article. Thank you very much – also for sharin…