Natural Ways to Control Slugs in the Yard & Garden

Most home gardners are adamant about controlling pests in their plantings, and are similarly concerned about the impact of harsh chemicals on the environment as they apply to commercially prepared pesticides. Controlling slugs seems to be of particular interest, simply because of their ability to multiply and inflict considerable damage to nearly every species of plant in a short time frame. There are luckily many ways to control the slug population in any garden naturally, with common sense and items readily found around the home. Most of the natural ways to control slugs are cost effective and are environmentally friendly, but most of all is that they truly work extremely well.

A very simple way to reduce the slug population around the home and garden naturally is to make and set out "beer traps". For whatever reason, slugs love the smell of beer and are drawn to it strongly. A small kitchen bowl with a few ounces of beer placed in the ground so the lip of the bowl is equal with the ground level serves as an excellent trap. The slugs crawl into the bowl and drown, not only killing that particular slug, but this method prevents future breeding as well.

Since slugs are termed as "soft-bellied", anything that is abrasive to their underside will cause dehydration and eventual death. Diatomaceous Earth in a natural or agricultural grade has microscopic jagged edges that works very well in controlling slugs. Finely crushed egg shells work in much the same manner in reducing slug populations, spread in circular patterns around plants. If available, seaweed spread around planting keeps slugs away because of the salt content. Even ordinary table salt can be sprinkled between rows in a garden sparingly to eliminate slugs.

A caffeine based spray can be made at home and is quite effective in preventing slugs when applied directly to plants. Simply make a pot of coffee only use 3 to 4 times more coffee than the normal amount. After cooling fill a spray bottle and apply it liberally to plant leaves to discourage slugs from damaging plantings. Companion planting has been known to work very well to naturally control slugs with little effort. Plants like Fennel, Rosemary, Wormwood and Anise emit odors that offensive to slugs, and they will usually go to great lengths to avoid these plants.

The best manner to control slugs naturally is to utilize all of the aforementioned processes in concert, making your home and garden an uncomfortable location for slugs to accumulate.