DIY & Home

How To Deal With Slugs Using Cultural Methods

Slugs can be the bain of a gardeners existence, thankfully there are many ways to deter and dispose of these pests, with cultural methods often being the preferred techniques. Tom Cole, head of horticulture and landscaping at Capel Manor College demonstrates to VideoJug the likes of traps and barriers to deal with slugs using cultural methods. Enlarge

How To Deal With Slugs Using Cultural Methods

Slugs can be the bain of a gardeners existence, thankfully there are many ways to deter and dispose of these pests, with cultural methods often being the preferred techniques. Tom Cole, head of horticulture and landscaping at Capel Manor College demonstrates to VideoJug the likes of traps and barriers to deal with slugs using cultural methods.

Step 1: You will need

  • A garden fork
  • Copper rings
  • A beer trap
  • Grit or sand

Step 2: Tend to your plants

To deter slugs from your garden, it is good practise to tend to your plants well. Remove any old collapsed leaves. Anything that is dead, dieing, or diseased is a haven for slugs, so if you remove these they are less likely to make an appearance.

Thin out your plants by removing a few leaves and branches. This allows more air to circulate around the plant, making it healthier. It will also help remove any damp spots that slugs may wish to set up home in.

You can also try planting rough and spiky plants such as poppies into your beds. Prickly surfaces are hard for the soft slug to navigate.

Step 3: Tend to the soil

Prick around your plants with a fork, or use a hoe to break up the soil. This has two effects. It dries out the surface soil, making it less attractive to slugs, and it exposes any pests or eggs that may be in the soil.

Step 4: Copper

You can buy copper rings from any good garden centre. These are fixed around a garden pot, and contain ions which emit a charge that gives slugs a small shock when they try to crawl over it. You can alternatively buy cheap copper strips from a DIY store and make your own.

Step 5: Beer traps

You can buy a commercial beer trap, or simply use an empty jar. Dig a hole in amongst your troubled plants and insert the container, before pouring a little beer in to the bottom. Slugs will be attracted to the scent, crawl in over night, and drown. Be sure to replace the beer regularly for maximum effect.

Step 6: Barriers

There are many different barriers that can prevent slugs, but the most common and simple is grit. Simply lay a ring of horticultural grit or sharp sand around the plants you wish to protect. This is too sharp for the slugs delicate under belly.

Alternatively, you can cover entire beds in attractive slug repellant mulch made of slate, or gravel.