How do I keep slugs out of my flowers?

Question

I live in a cool, rainy climate in which slugs thrive-seen them three and four inches long...I am wondering, what is the best way to keep them out of my garden, that won't hurt the surrounding flowers, soil, and environment? I mean, I still want good insects and bugs, and things to grow there.

Thanks!

Answer 1

Put a VERY shallow dish near the flowers where you usually find the slugs and fill it with BEER.  Slugs love beer.  They will climb in and drown.  I try to avoid using nasty chemicals when I can since I think we already have too many chemicals in the environment. Empty the dish each morning and add more beer. It doesn't matter if the beer is flat.

Answer 2

SLUGO!  This product is FANTASTIC.  My lemon verbena couldn't make it past the soil level until I started using this product. It is safe around pets and children and won't hurt beneficial insects. Check online or your local nursery.  

Answer 3

Use a small scale course gravel as a mulch around your plants.

The cut their bodies if they cross over it and that will kill them.

Also, thin copper wire around the base of the plants holds an electric 'charge' that the slugs feel and won't cross over that either.

And also think of items near the plants that a slug will crawl up to get to the plant regardless of the gravel or wire.

The beer and grape juice work, but that's a daily clean up job and doesn't guarantee they'll have a preference.

Answer 4

You can use chemiacl slugbait, but that is harmful to birds as well.

The most eco-friendly way is to put small bowls of beer out. The slugs dive in and die.  

Answer 5

Snail bait, sawdust sprinkled around the plants(they can't crawl on it) & beer in a container they can get into all work.

Answer 6

Beer works great.