Slugs

[adhawk76]

Anyone else battling slugs this spring in Socal? They've totally infested my container seedlings. They're on a table and the legs have tanglefoot. I've got a few slugs with beer traps. But, I'm losing the battle. They're eating all the new spring young leaves. Any ideas?

Adam

[xesoteryc]

I just bought a french press not too long ago and I dump the coffee grounds on the ground around my pots, its helped a lot. I read they dont like the acidity

[adhawk76]

I've heard that coffee grounds can help. I don't drink coffee, but maybe I'll buy a cheap coffee maker just for my garden.

[NateTheGreat]

I use slug pellets, which work decently, but don't replace a combined strategy. Having other plants they like more is the biggest thing. Also prevent leaving moist areas for them to hide during the day, and come out a few times each night to kill the ones you see. Really though the biggest thing is just having some weeds growing that they prefer to eat.

[SDPirate]

Pull any weeds/brush you have nearby your plants, they like to hide.  I have my plants on plastic sheet but some slugs will still get on it.  I find dropping salt around the area every once in a while deters them.  I tried using copper tape around the actual pots as well but did not find it too effective.  I haven't seen hardly any this year compared to last year.

[ScottR]

Diatomaceous earth works too cuts bodies as they move over it! Works on any soft body plant eaters

[Malhar]

If you are not opposed to chemical control, Hi-Yield Improved Slug & Snail Bait works well. It contains Metaldehyde.

[gnappi]

I've heard that coffee grounds can help. I don't drink coffee, but maybe I'll buy a cheap coffee maker just for my garden.

If you go to any restaurant or coffee joint I'm sure they'll give you all the used coffee grinds you can fit in a dump truck!

[happyhana]

I use copper plate around my veggie planters

[iamdimitar]

Beer traps worked wonders. Just pour beer into a small ceramic cup, and slugs will drown in it every evening. Slugs seem more attracted to the beer than the young seedlings. Change the beer every 3 to 4 days. Cheap lagers work well.

[Epicatt2]

Anyone else battling slugs this spring in Socal? They've totally infested my container seedlings. They're on a table and the legs have tanglefoot. I've got a few slugs with beer traps. But, I'm losing the battle. They're eating all the new spring young leaves. Any ideas?

Adam, the several suggestions about coffee grounds for slugs (and snails) is a good one.

That is because the residual caffeine in spent coffee grounds is a proven neurotoxin for slugs and snails. They will avoid the coffee grounds at all costs.  Only a .5- to 2% of residual caffeine in used coffee grounds is sufficient to repel slugs and snails.

BTW, if you don't drink coffee you may be able to convince a nearby restaurant of diner to let you have some old coffee grounds.  AND, coffee grounds are non-toxic to birds and mammals!

OK — HTH

Paul M.
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[love_Tropic]

Anyone else battling slugs this spring in Socal? They've totally infested my container seedlings. They're on a table and the legs have tanglefoot. I've got a few slugs with beer traps. But, I'm losing the battle. They're eating all the new spring young leaves. Any ideas?

Adam

try Deadline available at Lowes , it works really good.

[Epicatt2]

PS -  You can also dilute leftover cold coffee with an equal amount of tap water and spray
it on or around your plants/seedlings and there's enough caffeine in it to repel the slugs.

The caffeine when it comes into direct contact with slugs and snails causes them to go into
convulsions and die.  They avoid any contact with caffeine at all cost.

I especially like the fact that caffeine is not toxic to mammals and birds.

OK — HTH

Paul M.
==