Needed organic slug control cure!

[magick man]

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[sachis2112]

Have you tried the beer trap? My cousin always saved plastic containers and left them full of beer out in the garden. Some people I know have buried them partially to make it easier access for the sluggies. They fall in and drown. I'm from Port Orchard, WA originally so I know what you mean about slugs. I hate the banana slugs the most!

[VeganVixen]

try bordering the plants with salt and also toads help ALOT!

and also if youre brave enough and can handle VERY strong smells you might try a 3 p water / 1 part garlic juice /1 p onion juice/ 1 part jalepino juice with a tbs of dish soap and some maybe a lil bit of salt? mix it up in a CLEAN spray bottle and spray!

[sweetgoddess]

AHA! You asked me the right question. When I moved here to Washington State a few years ago, the gigantic slugs drove me nutty. Chomped everything!
Sluggo! That's the brand name of an organic slug bait. Also copper strips you can find at the nursery. And of course some use good old handpicking, but I could never bring myself to do that. :p ( I met a man at the library who actually makes slug jerky.......gag :eek: )
The Sluggo works. I also talked to them and told them the deal, so it was either that or the Sluggo that did the trick... ;)
Also, be careful what you use for mulch and boards, piles of stuff etc that slugs love to hide in during the day.
Bless the gigantic slugs of the northwest and bless your garden.
Warmly~

[magick man]

Merry meet Sweetgoddess, Veganvixen and Sachi2112,

I would like to NOT kill them as they deserve to live, just somewhere else, I would hope to simply "will" them away.

I believe the beer kills them, and the salt would ruin the ground for anything for a year or so, however the garlic onion spray sounds good, thanks for that idea.

I haven't heard of sluggo, but I'll look for it.

Thanks to you all for your suggestions.

[sachis2112]

Sluggo is supposed to be safe for any other pets and pests. Only for slug control.

But the copper stripping is really great! It has to be at least 2" wide but 4" is better. It creates an electrical reaction in the slug's slime so that it gets extremely uncomfortable. I'd forgotten about that one! Thanks for the reminder Carmel!

[magick man]

Well you are sure a great bunch and thanks for all your suggestions.
And iI have opted to go the Sluggo route as there is just too many gardens to put copper around.
I will keep everyone informed as to the results
Blessed Be Magick Man :cool:

[RawTruth]

... but, I'll post it anyway.

Go here to Andy Lopez's website www.invisible gardener.com

Here's the section on organic slug control:

http://www.invisiblegardener.com/natural_snail_control/default.htm

He's amazing!

[magick man]

Well thanks all for all the ideas.
I tred Sluggo so far and it helps we will see how long it last with all the rain we have been getting.

[RawTruth]

... and just talk to them and tell them to leave, especially if you have an affinity with animals.

[VeganVixen]

hee hee! thanks ,it helps me!

[Lady-B]

Do you have any oak trees in your neighborhood? If you do you are in luck.
Slugs do not like their leaves.
I am from the sultry south east and I am on parairie clay, a soil/almost concrete on which slugs thrive.
About the only way to use the soil is to compost and mulch - a haven for slugs.
My neighbor was wrapped up in oak trees and had no problem but in my house they would occasionall invite themselves inside as far as my copper strip.
I always wondered why she had none and I was overrun!
In an email reply to a post James Duke, the workd renown biologists, stated slugs hate oak leaves and will not frequent where they shed their leaves.
I put a few leaves in my flower pots and in the water trays I keep under them, as well as mixed in the dirt around my vegetables.
It has helped tremendously!

[magick man]

Ok here is how things are working my garden is going well only a few slugs making it in now THANKS for all the sugesstions.
I am using Sluggo and it is helping lots. You do need to reapply it every few weeks depending on how much it rains or you water.

I did buy some copper strips also but havent applyed them yet havent had the need since i have tryed the other ways.

MMMMMMMMMMMM as I sit here eating some fresh strawberrys with NO SLUGS

[Dawn39]

Slugs love beer !!
if you take an old container ( being raw this may prove to be difficult)
let's say this is a plastic cup bury the cup to just around the rim in your garden. You can put (soy, vegtable) oil around the rim, fill the cup 1/3 with beer. They will come & they will drown. You could place a catch above the beer and release the slugs elsewhere

If this type of control is against your raw nature try copper, the cheap strands of plumbing wires, flashing etc. place around the area of your plants, this gives a mild shock to the slug and they leave the area

I've heard of people using salt but I think it's cruel and enviromentaly incorrect, you'd ruin the organic nature of your garden

I wish you the best :)

[sweetgoddess]

Thanks for the update magick man. I liked Sluggo also.
Now I have a better way to control slugs. Move to Montana! There are no slugs and no fleas here. Amazing. ;)

[twinyoga]

Slugs just killed our beautiful snap dragons. I can't wait to have my husband read this thread (he's the gardener).