Slugs
 Slugs are perhaps the best known pest in
the garden, especially if you grow hostas. Land slugs are descendant from
land snails and are like snails without the protection of a shell. There
are dozens of species and most of them contribute to soil building and
don't harm the garden. The most common is the common garden slug. It is
one inch long with dark skin and a lighter stripe along the side. The
foot can be yellow or red.The foot contains glands that pour out a slimy
fluid that makes it easier to move over different surfaces.
Slugs are hermaphrodites, they all have male and female reproductive
systems.Slug eggs are in the soil everywhere—they lie around for
years and hatch when conditions are right. Look in moist soil areas under
rocks and boards, and you may see a cluster of tiny, white oval-shaped
eggs. In winter slugs go into the ground and hybernate. If it's to hot
or dry they become dormant or hybernate until conditions are right.
Problem
Slugs can do a great deal of damage to your plants.They make large holes
in foliage, stems, and bulbs. They may demolish seedlings and severely
damage young shoots and plants. They may crawl up shrubs to feed. They
are more numerous and damaging in wet years.
Damage Control
Try different methods. Any particular one may or may not work with your
slugs.
Beer—one of the most popular methods is to place tin cans
with the lip flush to the soil surface. Fill with beer. Slugs will be
attracted to the beer and fall in and drown. You can use grape juice instead.
Slug dough—Make a mixture of 1/2 cup flour, 3 Tblsp cornmeal,
1/2 cup water, 1 Tblsp molasses, and 1/2 Tblsp yeast. Fill a few tin cans.
Check your traps every few days.
Grapefruit rind—overturn an eaten half grapefruit rind and
check underneath for slugs.
Crushed eggshells—make a protective barrier around tender
young plants with crushed eggshells.
Weed control—be persistant in hoeing weeds. Keep areas weed
and litter free to give slugs nowhere to hide and lay their eggs. Remove
rotting boards and debris left on the ground. Keep surrounding grass cut
short.
Quack grass—chop it up and use as mulch. Quack grass damages
the nerves slugs use for feeding. Or make a tea by cutting it up and soaking
in 1 quart of warm water for 24 hours. Spray on the soil as a barrier,
but never spray this on your plants. |
