Marianne's Response

Slugs

What damage do slugs do, and how do I get rid of them?

Posted by Theresa Valenta on September 17, 2018

Marianne's Response

Slugs (and their shelled cousins snails) do a lot of damage to leafy vegetables and flowers with tender leaves. They seem to love hosta, lettuce and cabbage as well as marigolds, petunias and other bedding plants. The damage appears as holes in leaves, buds eaten from flowers and the new growth of dahlias and some bulbs eaten all the way to ground level. Look for slimy trails as signs slugs have attacked or visit your garden at night or after a rain storm to see slugs and snails in action. Fortunately slug baits are very effective and the new pet safe slug baits are easy to use. You can also set out shallow saucers of beer to attract and drown slugs or harvest them at night when they are munching on your plants. Clean up rotting debris and fallen leaves to keep down the population of slugs and don't overwater as slugs and snails are attracted to moisture.