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STOMP OUT SLUGS!

Garden slugs represent the epitome of late-night snackers. These midnight munching monsters leave their shiny trails behind them, as they forage through flowers and plants in the garden. Your horticultural investment and labor can be quickly destroyed by these soft-bodied pests.

Chemical pesticides may be effective against slugs, but these compounds may also harm birds, pets and wildlife. Non-toxic methods of slug control can be helpful without causing environmental concerns.

SLUG PREVENTION

Slugs naturally appear in most gardens, but you can take a few practical steps to minimize their population in yours,

First, try to water your garden in the morning, rather than evening. Slugs love moist, dark conditions, and evening watering will encourage their activity levels in your garden.

HAIR TODAY, GONE TOMORROW

Ask your hairstylist for hair clippings, and place these around your plants. Slugs and snails will stay away.

SUPER SLUG SPRAY

Create a slug spray, using equal amounts of water and vinegar. Spray this directly on slugs.

SLUG TRAPS

You can make your own slug traps, using basic ingredients from your own pantry.

Fill shallow pie pans with honey or dissolved yeast. Set these into the garden, right at ground level. Slugs will crawl in and die there. (Change pans frequently.)

As an alternative, you can pour a can of beer into a peanut butter jar. Bury the jar in your garden, with only the top portion exposed. Mound the dirt right to the edge, so slugs can creep into the jar. Prop the lid of the jar over the top with a few toothpicks, to prevent precipitation from diluting the beer. (Empty tuna or cat food cans, margarine tubs or other containers may also be used as slug traps.)

SLUG BAITS

Slug bait is available at garden supply stores. You can build a slug hotel from an empty plastic milk jug. Cut holes in the sides, and place the slug bait inside. Put the traps in the garden, with the holes positioned at ground level. The jugs will keep the slug bait dry and prevent children and animals from gaining access to the poison bait.

SHELL SLUG STOPPERS

Save some seashells from the shore. Break these into small, jagged pieces, and place them around your garden plantings to deter slugs. The sharp pieces will send slugs away.

You can also use eggshells from your kitchen. Bake the eggshells for 10 minutes at 35 degrees (F) to harden them. Crush them in a zippered plastic bag before placing them around plants.

ROUGH LAVA ROCKS

Mulching your garden with rough-textured lava rocks

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