Longer, warmer days combined with recent rainy weather has brought out the slugs in full force. They are everywhere in my garden. Last week, I lost a nice crop of carrot seed sprouts to a lone slug.
Here come the big fat red slugs, slim yellow banana slugs, slimy leopard spotted slugs and those tiny dark slugs that seemingly come from out of nowhere and ruin a planting of bok choy overnight. Slugs!
In the old days, one could use a slug bait that contained metaldehyde. Slugs and snails loved this stuff and could smell it a mile away. They would eat it and then die immediately. The trouble with metaldehyde is it toxic to other critters, and so now it is banned.
There are two main ways I deal with slugs in the spring. First is using organic type baits that are readily available. Sluggo is a brand that contains iron phosphate. Safer’s and Corry’s contain sodium ferric. These are reasonably harmless baits, though some may debate this. Slugs eat the bait, get a belly ache and die within a few days.
Two ways to use these baits effectively is to first sprinkle the material around known hiding places several days before setting out transplants. Place under shrubs, under pots or anywhere it is dark and moist. Or, you can take shallow plastic cups and set them at soil level and fill with bait.
Slugs are attracted to plastic. I have found the black cup covers for takeout coffee to be handy. Slugs seem attracted to black. Also, you can go online and find numerous videos on how to make slug bait traps.
Trapping is also effective. With most traps, the slugs congregate and don’t die. You have to dispose of them accordingly.
Beer traps, shallow cups filled with beer, set at soil level, work well. Slugs are attracted to the yeasty scent of beer, climb into the cup and drown. I’ve found success in placing chopped tomatoes on a cheap paper plate and setting where slugs hang out. Slugs are lured out of their hiding places and eat the tomato and also nibble on the paper plate.
A surprising number of slugs hang out in grassy lawn areas. Lay a black plastic bag or a small tarp out on the grass. Overnight slugs will congregate underneath.
I use both baits and traps to produce the best outcomes for keeping slugs from decimating spring plantings. Begin the twofold process a week or two before setting out transplants. Monitor baiting and traps daily when weather is extra rainy or foggy.
Terry Kramer is the retired site manager for the Humboldt Botanical Garden and a trained horticulturist and journalist. She has been writing a garden column for the Times-Standard since 1982. She currently runs a gardening consulting business. Contact her at 707-834-2661 or terrykramer90@gmail.com.
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