Maximum Yield USA 2015 September | Page 143

Use Slug Catchers These are cute little ceramic items that serve to, you guessed it, catch slugs. The slugs smell something tasty, slime their way into the container, and then drown in the bottom. The beverage of choice to use as bait is beer. If you don’t want to buy a catcher, there are designs online detailing how to make them out of pop bottles. Create Barriers Crushed-up eggshells can be an excellent deterrent for slugs crossing into your garden. Sand and coffee grounds are other natural slug barriers. Diatomaceous earth is another option similar to eggshells and other natural barriers. One thing to keep in mind with this method is that it can be harmful to the insects you do want in your garden. Encourage Natural Predators This can be accomplished by attracting birds to your garden, raising chickens or by introducing other slug predators. Toads, nematodes and ground beetles are a few predators that can help take care of your slug population. Try Natural Sprays An ammonia mix in a spray bottle can be one method to battle these pests when other methods are not working, but you are not quite ready to reach for a pesticide. Use one part ammonia to six parts water in the bottle. When spraying, do not spray the plant with the mixture, as it will eventually kill the plant. eggshells “Crushed-up can be an excellent deterrent for slugs crossing into your garden.” Bring in the Big Guns When all else fails, it may be time to use chemicals to get rid of the slug pests, depending on how infested your garden may be, and if the other methods are not working for you. It is essential to follow the instructions carefully when applying chemicals to your garden. An infestation of slugs in your garden can lead to the usage of some four-letter words when you find them feasting on your future harvests. Following some of these slug removal methods may help you win the battle against these little slimy pests. You may need to combine a few methods to get the results you want, such as putting out beer traps and eggshell barriers, but it wi