Pest control of slugs
From Freepedia
Some slugs are notable garden pests and there are various methods of controlling them. Commercial slug pellets containing metaldehyde or methiocarb are available, but are not approved for organic gardening as they can poison creatures further up the food chain. Aluminium sulphate can also be used and its proponents say it is less toxic to the environment. Salt will kill a slug but washes away easily and contaminates the ground. Diatomaceous earth is a natural abrasive that can cause small cuts or scratches on slugs, causing them to dehydrate.
Slugs have an aversion to copper. Copper pipe can be used and commercial slug rings are available. A 15cm length of plastic pipe with copper foil tape around it can be used to protect individual plants.
Slugs find rough surfaces such as crushed eggshells irritating. They also find dry surfaces difficult to cross since they must extrude a wet slime coat in order to move and this can eventually lead to dehydration, so leave cleared borders or walkways around plants. Mulch provides an ideal slug habitat so mulch lightly around plants that are attractive to slugs. Water only in the morning so that the ground will dry by evening when slugs are naturally active. Prune lower leaves or stake large plants to reduce potential hiding places for slugs and to allow better air circulation which helps keep the soil surface drier.
Beer traps can be used early in the season, when the slugs' favoured foods and foliage is more scarce. Such traps have various designs, but essentially the slugs find the smell attractive and will venture into a half buried jar, or cut away plastic bottle, contining a small amount of beer (not stout or lager), succumb to the fumes, and invariably drown.
Grapefruit Grapefruit can also be used in gardens around plants to dispel slugs.
Comfrey can be used as a decoy by placing the leaves around plants to protect them. The slugs will eat the comfrey and leave the protected plant alone. This is a honeypot approach, and rarely effective as it merely increases slug populations in the longer term.
Encouraging natural predators will help to keep the slug population under control. A recent development in the control of slugs is the introduction of 'Nemaslug', a microscopic nematode (Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita) that will seek out and parasitize slugs, reproduce inside them and kill them. The nematode is applied by watering onto moist soil, and gives protection for up to six weeks, though is mainly effective with small and young slugs under the soil surface. The nematode is only effective in warm, moist conditions, above about 20°C.
Use garden plants that are natually resistant to slugs.
Finally, night time patrols with hand collection can be useful. These can be augmented by setting out traps such as boards, shingles, overturned flower pots, or grapefruit halves for slugs to hide under. Flip over the traps and collect the slugs.
For best results, several methods can be used together.
