Are you dealing with a massive slug infestation in your garden? Well, I have a long list of solutions that may work well for your exact situation!
Today, we’ll be taking a look at all the ways you can ward off slugs from your garden and keep the space safe from these slimy creepy crawlies. Let’s dive right into it!
Slugs In The Garden? 10 Natural Ways To Keep Them Away!
1: Crushed Eggshells
I’ve recommended using crushed eggshells to keep snails and pests out of the garden quite frequently. It’s one of the things that worked wonders for me as the sharp edges of the crushed eggshells hurt slugs and made them feel very uncomfortable, driving them away from the place.
2: Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth, also known as DE powder, can be found easily in local nurseries and gardening stores. It works by dehydrating slugs and insects that come in contact with it, and let me tell you… it’s super-duper effective.
Simply sprinkle some DE powder on plant leaves or directly on the slugs and let it work its magic.
3: Coffee Grounds
Though you may be a little surprised to learn this, coffee grounds actually work quite well as a slug deterrent. The caffeine in coffee grounds is toxic to slugs and can irritate them enough to make them flee the garden.
4: Copper Tape
Though copper tape won’t do much harm to you, it can actually scare the living hell out of slugs and snails. Copper creates a mild electric shock whenever these slimy creatures come in contact with it.
A good strategy is to stick this copper tape around those particular plants that are heavily targeted by slugs.
5: Beer Traps
Beer traps are a personal favorite and almost every experienced gardener would view this strategy in a positive light.
Simply open a beer can, drink half of it, and leave behind the rest in your garden. The yeasty aroma of beer attracts slugs and snails from a distance and lures them into the can where they drown.
6: Handpicking At Night
Yeah…I mean…if you want to, you definitely can. Since slugs usually come out in the nighttime, it makes sense to handpick them at night and relocate them somewhere far from your garden.
The only downside of this method is that you’ll have to touch these slugs and be able to pick them up which can be a bit troublesome for some people. Don’t forget to use gloves!
7: Decoy Plants (Sacrificial Crops)
Decoy plants, also known as trap crops, work by luring slugs away from your main, growing crops so they can thrive in harmony. They do a sacrificial job, getting attacked and eaten while the other crops remain unharmed.
Nasturtiums and cabbages do an amazing job as trap crops as slugs are generally very attracted to them.
8: Homemade Garlic Spray
Whether planted as a companion plant or used in the form of a spray, slugs absolutely despise the smell of garlic. It’s strong, it’s pungent, and it messes with them so much that they prefer to stay as far away from it as possible.
Make a simple garlic spray at home by blending a good amount of water with a few garlic cloves and use this mixture to spray your plants so that slugs avoid lurking anywhere near them.
9: Wood Ash Or Sand Barrier
Both wood ash and sand barriers work like crushed eggshells in the sense that they’re uncomfortable for the slugs to slide on thanks to the dry nature of these materials.
Irritants like these cause slugs to change their path, essentially driving them away from your garden and allowing the plants to thrive in peace.
10: Encourage Natural Predators
If deterring slugs on your own is proving to be too difficult, you can always call for help. Thankfully, natural predators like birds, frogs, and hedgehogs will wipe out slug populations in no time if you allow them to.
Attract these natural predators to your garden by planting crops they’re drawn to or using special luring techniques. However, make sure they remain undisturbed so they can do their job thoroughly and leave you with a slug-free garden.
