Slugs
By Judy Sedbrook,Colorado Master GardenerSM, Colorado State University Cooperative Extension, Denver County ...
admiring the beauty and colors, enjoying the fresh fragrances
of all of your favorite new blossoms as they open...
And just then...
You step on a icky, nasty old slugggg!
Pop! Slip! ICK!
You've been Slimed!
I hate slugs! ...
Slugs are snails without a shell. Their soft slimy body can get up to 8 inches long ranging from white to brownish black in color. They prefer a damp, cool environment, especially rainy weather.
Slugs and snails are the bane of many gardeners' lives, ripping at slow speed through a garden, destroying young plants under the cover of darkness.
Slugs live and lay their eggs in warm, wet, dark places, so remove boards, bricks, and other damp debris on the ground. Go out at night, when they are most active, and drown them in a container of soapy water.
Slugs are slow-moving cousins of the snail and are common garden pests, especially in humid regions.
Your organic slug control strategy is threefold: take their homes away, keep new slugs from moving in and kill any slugs who dare to remain.
Slugs feed on a variety of living plants chewing holes in leaves, flowers, fruit and young bark. They are also serious pests of ripening fruits, such as strawberries and tomatoes, that are close to the ground.
Slugs hide under leaves and do a lot of damage in the garden, before you even know they're there. Here's what some readers recommend. What are your tips for getting rid of and controlling slugs in your garden?
Let Nature Take Care of It ...
Slugs, a common Garden pest, are snails without a shell. Size can vary from one-fourth inch to two inches depending on age and species. They spend the winter as pearl-like eggs in protected places, usually under plant debris.
Slugs particularly like young plants and delphiniums, so if you have these in your garden, chances are you will have slugs as well.
Slugs and snails will get into the mixture and drown.
Keep in mind this will only reliably kill slugs if the trap is deep enough so that slugs can't reach over the top to get out.
SNAILS AND SLUGS
WHAT'S THE DIAGNOSIS?
Large holes in cabbage leaves are often caused by one of several caterpillars common on crucifers (mustard family). But do not jump to conclusions. On the cabbage leaves I found a shiny, slimy spot.
Various methods of controlling slugs have been around for a long time & they work, but slugs are always returning. Their numbers never seem to go down. It's a constant battle to control them in areas with lots of rain (like ours).
Slugs
Plants affected: Almost anything soft and lush.
Symptoms: Similar to snails, except nearer to the ground, and slugs will eat all parts of leaves. They can even attack underground. Potatoes are a common target.
Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails can also be a problem, especially in wet years. Removing mulch and other garden debris can reduce the moist hiding places they need during the day.
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Slugs and Snails
Slugs and snails hide under your mulch and attack your leafy greens, strawberries, tomatoes, citrus plants and many types of annuals and perennials.
Slugs and Snails: A Paradox
Why is it that I can crush a slug underfoot, albeit with some trepidation? But when it comes to snails, forget it. They are carefully transferred to another area away from my lettuce and kale.
Slugs and Snails
Damage: Holes in leaves.
Time of damage: Any time, but especially during wet weather.
The pest: Nocturnal feeders that leave a slime trail on leaves as they feed. Slugs are gray and slimy, without shells.
Bugs, Slugs & Other Thugs: Controlling Garden Pests Organically
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Battle slugs The heat may chase them into hiding, but they're there. A little bait in the cool spots will go a long way right now (as will night raids after lawn watering or summer showers; just handpick and throw them away).
Slugs and Snails
- Of all the pests that attack herbs, slugs and snails are the
most troublesome. These appear in many shapes, sizes and colours, but most feed
upon the foliage, stems and roots of the plants. The large, evil-looking land-creeping ...
SlugsAway is a 24-foot-long, 5-inch-tall aluminum mesh fence that repels slugs. The key is a weatherproof power pack driven by a single 9-volt battery that attaches to the fence.
Slugs are slimy creatures which can become serious pests in flower beds, home gardens, and greenhouses. They are basically snails without shells, they are not insects.
Slugs and snails hide during the day in moist, dark places, such as old flower pots and under overgrown bushes. Slugs tend to spend a lot of time below the soil.
Slugs and snails are common garden pests and can cause damage, particularly to young seedlings, but it's surprisingly easy to keep numbers down. Set some beer traps.
Slugs and snails These pests love the flavour of basil and will search out tender leaves after dark. All the slug-catching methods can be applied to the basil patch, but don't use any chemical slug baits around food plants.
Slugs don't like travelling over sand, gravel or egg shells.
Salt and slug pellets will kill slugs.
Add shreaded oak leaves to the compost mix, slugs don't like the tanin they contain.
Slugs are also a common problem. There are a variety of control methods. More on Slugs and snails.
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Slugs and snails are a year-round problem, but they can do a disproportionate amount of damage at this time. A seedling can be eliminated with a bite, whereas an established plant may just be disfigured.
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Slugs and snails are common pests affecting primrose plants. These can be controlled with nontoxic slug bait placed around the garden. Spider mites and aphids may also attack primroses but can be sprayed with soapy water.
slugs
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To keep slugs from devouring young carrot foliage, sprinkle that area of the garden with diatomaceous earth.
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Snails, slugs and sap sucking insects can be a problem. Control any pests and diseases as necessary.
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Slugs hate to travel over them as they are rather sharp for their frail bodies and the acid that is in them, is not beneficial to the slugs. So just pour them around the base of your plants and help protect them from slugs.
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Snails and Slugs
En masse, snails and slugs can destroy entire plant beds in a single night. A popular organic remedy for ridding your garden of these slimy creatures is nematodes.
Earwigs and slugs are the most common pest problems clematis have. Slugs are the most troublesome. As they will always be with us, it's a matter of control not elimination.
Snails and slugs - Snails and slugs are mollusks that travel in a creeping movement. Snails have a spiral shell with a distinct head and retractable foot.
To get rid of slugs and snails, invert a flower pot near a shady plant. Use a stick to prop up the flower pot or place on irregular ground - whatever will give enough of an entrance way for slugs and snails.
Watch out for slugs and snails! Slugs and snails consider bulb shoots a delicacy so be prepared!
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This saves you die trouble of regular watering, but it also means that slugs and snails may be lurking. These pests can deface the leaves with holes, although new fohage quickly fills the gaps.
Troubled with slugs last year? Plan to set slug traps. Here's an easy one you can make yourself. Cut off completely the top half of a one or two liter plastic soda bottle.
Snails or slugs, ants and flies, are formidable enemies in the first instance. Frosts are inimical to its growth, and the vines are frequently blighted even after they have reached the top of the poles.
Potato beetles, Japanese beetles, earwigs, slugs, black spot, mildew and blight are just a few of the garden scourges of late summer. I do what I can to keep up, hand-picking the beetles and trying to ignore the disease problems.
Easy way to get rid of slugs and aphids!
Certain varieties of plants are more resistant to insects. Some research into the types of plants you grow and the unwanted insects common to your area could prevent a lot of pest problems.
As far as common insects, slugs and snails are often attracted to begonias, as are mealy bugs and spider mites. Prevent mealy bugs by keeping the area well weeded, and avoiding high-nitrogen fertilizers.
While insects avoid Marigolds, slugs can do major damage. Slugs like to slither up the stem and chew on the leaves. They can destroy an entire flower garden of Marigolds. They can be seen on the plants overnight, in wet weather and early morning.
We rely on slug bait or hunting by torchlight to keep the snails and slugs at bay. Others swear by a spray of copper, or surrounding the plant with a little trail of copper crystals or even sand.
SLUGGO® can help you clean up late season snails and slugs! This environmentally-friendly product is made from ferric phosphate, a naturally occurring material. It comes in a mini pellet like some other baits.
Insects such as aphids and slugs sometimes attack petunia. Wash with insecticidal soap for aphids. Trap slugs by placing pots upside down around the plants. The slugs will take refuge under them in the day and can be easily disposed of.
Anchusa is good once established and protected from slugs (slugs like damper soils and they love anchusa).
Anemone are excellent perennials for clay soils and will thrive and flower well on clay. The taller varieties are excellent.
Diatomaceous earth works on the crawlers such as slugs, snails, earwigs and non-flying beetles such as flea beetles.
A chewing/rasping insect feeds on plant tissue and can cause ragged/chewed or missing leaves (caterpillars, slugs, beetles, grasshoppers), rolled leaves (leafroller), tunnels in between upper and lower leaf surfaces (leaf miners), holes in stems, ...
Slugs are often attracted to lettuce. You can trap (and drown) the slugs by placing a shallow pan or pie tin in the lettuce patch, filled with beer (stale beer is fine). You can also try sprinkling wood ashes around the plants.
Otherwise, watch out for slugs and snails.
Their foliage is evergreen in the deep South.
Common problems of hostas include slugs and deer. Less common problems can include variegated cut worm, viruses, earwigs, crown rot, foliar nematodes, leaf spots, mice, and voles.
Ground beetles are good insects and feed at night on cutworms, slugs and other soil insects. Parasitic wasps are also beneficial and include braconid wasps which attack aphids, caterpillars and the larvae of many beetles.
 See also: Plant, Soil, Flower, Water, Gardening
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