World’s Longest List of Slug Remedies

Bark Mulch

A coarse mulch of something like oak or cedar bark chippings makes a decorative and effective slug barrier. Organic mulches, while benefiting the soil, harbour slugs with food and moist shelter.

Beer Trap

A container half buried in the ground and half filled with beer. The slug, lured by the scent, tumbles to its death. Keep the rim raised 2-3cm (1”) above the soil to prevent the slug-eating ground beetle from toppling in too.

Bricks

An old brick has a natural cavity on one side that provides a cool daytime slug hiding place. Look under any you have around the garden and dispose of the slugs found sheltering. Purposely position a few to create slug refuges, and check daily.

A brick also makes a handy squishing implement!

Carpet

Lay an old piece of damp carpet or sacking on the ground to provide a cool dark shelter. Check underneath during the day and dispose of any slugs you find.

Cat or Dog Food

Slugs are partial to dried cat or dog food and it makes suitable bait, either to lure them away from vulnerable plants or in slug traps. It’s like pellets without the poison.

Cinders

These make an abrasive barrier, and the fine ash also acts as a desiccant that dries the slug. Wood ash and cinders are preferable. Avoid direct contact with plants.

Never use ash from a fire that’s burnt household waste because it could contain toxins.

Diatomaceous Earth

A fine powder of crushed fossilised prehistoric sea algae. The sharp edges are like tiny razor blades to the underside of a slug, making an excellent barrier. Unfortunately diatomaceous earth has a similar effect on many small insects, some of which are the gardener’s friend. Use sparingly and selectively.

Eggs

Clusters of tiny white slug eggs can be found in cool damp places – beneath flowerpots, stones or pieces of wood, or in the crevices between large clods of earth. Expose them to the elements and to birds and other animals. Every egg destroyed is one slug less next season.

Egg Shells

An old favourite is to create a jaggedy barrier of crushed egg shells around your vulnerable plants. The decomposing egg shells also release a small amount of calcium, which can help ‘sweeten’ acidic soils.

Flowerpots & Seed Trays

Ever noticed that whenever you pick up an old seed tray or flowerpot you always find slugs and snails underneath? Go and have a look now. Collect up all the slugs you find and get rid!

Grapefruit

An empty grapefruit half placed upside down on the ground provides both food and a daytime refuge. Keep it slightly raised or make a small hole for the slug to enter. Remove skin and contents next day. The same can be done with an orange or slice of melon.

Grit & Gravel

The sharp rasping edges of finely crushed ‘horticultural grit’ make an excellent slug barrier. Coarser gravel is largely ineffective, other than for decorative purposes.

Be sure to used ‘washed’ grit or gravel to remove any traces of salt.

Gutter Trap

Place sections of capped guttering in slug prone areas. Rub the inside edges with Vaseline and fill the bottom with tempting slug treats (beer, dried cat food, etc.) The greedy slug crawls inside to feast but won’t be able to crawl back up the slippery sides. Dispose of your catch next morning, or leave for the birds.

Hair

A protective barrier of hair or fur around susceptible plants will entangle and deter slugs, and the cut ends are surprisingly uncomfortable to slide over. An added benefit is that the hair supplies some nitrogen to the soil.

Milk

Slugs seem to like milk, and this can be used in the same way as a Beer Trap. If you do use milk, be sure to keep it covered to prevent the hedgehog from drinking it and becoming ill.

Newspaper

Lay an old newspaper or magazine on the ground. Use it whole and wet it to prevent it from being disturbed by the wind. Slugs love the dampness. Check underneath and dispose of any slugs found sheltering.

Nut Shells

Make a scratchy slug barrier out of crushed nut shells. Hard shells like walnuts work best.

Oatmeal or Bran

Slugs seem to love raw oats and bran. Sprinkle some on the ground or make little heaps. Bloated and dehydrated, the slug either dies or is unable to retreat to its hiding places, making it easy pickings for the birds.

Pellets

Metaldehyde or Methiocarb. Metaldehyde is more common and less toxic, making it the better choice. Use sparingly – 1 every 10cm (4”) – and as a very last resort because they also poison a lot of beneficial wildlife, and even pets.

Keep slug pellets away from young children and animals. Promptly and safely dispose of any poisoned slugs.

Pine Needles

A mulch of pine needles makes a prickly barrier to keep slugs away from your plants.

Plank of Wood

Use an old plank of wood to provide a daytime slug shelter. Placed between rows of plants, it doubles as a handy walkway. Check underneath periodically and remove any slugs you find. Or you could simply jump on it a few times!

Plastic Bag (black)

Take something like a black bin liner and fill it with slug treats. An old lettuce or two, handful of dried cat or dog food, cup of oats or bran, half a glass of beer – all the things a slug loves – and lay it on the ground. It’s like a 5-star hotel! A cool dark shelter with plenty of food and drink. Next day simply tie it up and dispose of the contents.

Polystyrene Plant Tray

Slugs seem to love hiding in the compartments formed by upturning one of these, and you can scoop them out and dispose of them. Place a few trays around the garden, weighted down with a piece of wood or stone to double as a natural garden feature. It also helps the environment because it’s one chunk of non-biodegradable polystyrene that won’t end up in a landfill site!

Salt

An old favourite is to go into the garden after dark and sprinkle a little salt upon every slug you see. Alternatively, you could collect the little beasties and dunk them in a bucket of salty water.

Keep salt away from your plants – they don’t like it and will die!

Sand

Sharp sand can be used to make a harsh slug deterring barrier around tender plants. It also helps improve drainage in heavy clay soils. Builders sand and play sand are too soft to be effective.

Sandpaper

Cut rings of sandpaper and slip them round the stems of vulnerable plants. You could also make a sandpaper mat to stand a pot on.

Sawdust

Sawdust makes a good coarse barrier around tender plants, also acting as a desiccant that dries the slug out. Hardwood sawdust is most effective, and some people recommend cedar or oak.

Scissors

No, I’m not going into detail! Only for those of you with a strong stomach.

Garden hoe, sharp knife...  they all make a suitable alternative.

Sharp Stick

Have you ever watched the park warden spearing litter with one of those long spikes? If you’re not of a squeamish disposition, you can do the same with slugs. Either leave them for the birds or dispose of them however you see fit.

Shelters & Refuges

Learn the sort of places where slugs love to hide during the day. Create your own such places in the garden and have the slugs exactly where you want them. Now go to those places and dispose of any slugs you find sheltering.

Slug Kebab

Not for the squeamish! Go out at night and spear slugs with a skewer. Leave it on the bird table to provide a tasty breakfast.

Steel Wool

Try standing your pots and containers on steel wool. Slugs don’t like crawling over it.

Stone

A flat slightly raised stone or piece of paving slab makes a cool dark daytime slug refuge. Lift it during the day and dispose of any slugs found hiding there.

Thorny Prunings

Thorny or prickly prunings can be scattered around vulnerable plants to deter slugs. Stops cats scratching up your garden too. (Ooo.. Ouch!)

Trowel Method

Using the handy garden trowel, first scoop up an unsuspecting slug. Now with a flick of the wrist, catapult it into next door’s garden!

Vaseline (Petroleum Jelly)

Smear a 5cm (2”) band all the way round the rim of your containers. The slug’s grip will be broken and it won’t be able to reach your plants. Be aware that this can make containers more difficult to handle.

Wood or Board

An old piece of board strategically placed can add rustic charm to the garden and provide daytime slug shelter. Raise it slightly or fix a couple of small battens to the underside to allow the slug to slither underneath. Turn it during the day and dispose of any slugs you find.