How can I get rid of slugs?

Question

My garden is completely overrun with them. They come out in hoards, 20 of them on my patio alone.

I have used slug pellets before and I didn't like them. They left hundreds of dead and exploded slug bodies everywhere, they have to be replaced every time it rains, and I have 2 cats. The same goes for salt, I don't want the things there dead or alive.

Is there anything that will just get them out and keep them out?

An organic thing?

There are so many of them they also come into my house. I find them on my carpet! Today there was one on the stairs, making its way upstairs!

I have a hedgehog in the garden. Clearly too many for it to eat, or it may too fat to come out and get them!

Answer 1

slug killer

Answer 2

  There is no way if you have already tried those things i was going to say.

   Attracting birds is out of the question,since you have two cats.

  Maybe a slug trap - something to do with beer i've heard.

Answer 3

Make a small pond in your garden and encourage frogs to move into it, they love slugs. Foxes also eat them and snails, but its not so easy to get one into the garden on a regular basis unless they are around where you live. Slug traps are a waste of time, the sucess rate is very low if at all. Copper strips are said to be effective but you would need a lot. If they are inside the house they could be getting in on shoes or stuck to the fur of your cat. Normally you would only get them inside it you have a severe damp problem. Have a word with the Environmental Health people at your local council, if they cant help then no one can.

Answer 4

pour salt down over the area. you can also get slug pellets - my grandfather used to use them in his veggie garden

Answer 5

Some people say coffee grounds. But our slugs seem to like coffee!

Answer 6

sharp gravel it worked for us.      Slugs dont like sharp pea gravel.       Put a 3 inch border around you pattio.

        Good luck.

Answer 7

Salt :D

Answer 8

http://www.jaycarelectronics.co.uk/produ...

buy one of these.

im gonna get one myself because i have hords of moths infiltrating my house on a night. these things are the size of small birds!

Answer 9

Saltt  

Answer 10

Sounds like it's now time for drastic measures. If that were me I would be calling the exterminator. I had a major problem like that and it took a very long time, lot's of salt and lots of lost sleep getting up 3 hour before it gets daylight using a flashlight to spot them and sprinkling salt on each and every one of them. In addition to this I sprinkled "Bug Getta Plus" all over the gardens and very lightly moistened with a fine mist from the hose nozzle in the evenings every 4 or 5 days. That was two years ago. I haven't had a problem since. Next time I'm calling the pros to handle the problem for me. You can do like I did or call the exterminator. Both are effective.

Answer 11

Salt is your best bet, it kills them because they can't handle it. Sprinkle some on your compost or soil and they won't be back :) & if you see one get the famous weapon out once again, salt.

Answer 12

Scoop them up and sautee them in garlic and wine.  Yum. :-D