When slugs and snails invade gardens they can certainly cause some real damage consuming
– up to 40 percent of their,weight attacking seedlings, roots and tubers of most plants.
To prevent invasion it is important to remove all vegetable refuse and other sources of food in contact with your soil, as well as bricks, boards and piles of debris in which they can hide in.
The best method of removal is handpicking! Handpicking slugs and snails is most effective in the evening just after sunset, slugs and snails are more active at night and you will have better luck at finding them.
Use a flashlight and check throughout the bases of plants, between rows and under leaves wear gloves or use a spoon to put these pests into a bucket, if you can relocate them even better – otherwise a bucket of soapy water will drown them. Continue this method of handpicking daily for a week or so and periodically thereafter. You will notice a reduction in population!
Handpicking is the ultimate removal method, but trapping slugs can also be beneficial! Place stale beer into a shallow container to a depth of about 1 inch (so the top of the container is level with soil) this will attract slugs and they will drown. Place these traps every 3 – 4 ft as needed.
Barriers can also help prevent these pests! Sand, crushed egg shells, clean wood ash are effective when sufficiently sprinkled around the bases of plants. Velcro, copper flashing, tinfoil and roofing shingles are also effective. These substances irritate their bodies and deter them from climbing.
