Commercial Products
- Diatomaceous earth, found in the swimming pool maintenance section of most hardware stores, dehydrates and kills snails/slugs. A new, organic product, Sluggo, does not have Metaldehyde, a dangerous chemical to dogs, cats, children. However, for industrial strength non-organic products, I always go with Ortho products, which are cost-effective, very effective. Submitted By: Mike
- This year, after a disastrous year of slugs last year, I am going to cover every square inch of my yard, garden, and other areas with sluggo. This seems to be the most effective cure. Last year in the early morning I would go out and my lawn looked alive from all of the slugs heading back to the beds. Feet are very effective at this time of morning, especially shoes without tread, they swipe, squish and pop unrelentingly. If they were legal in our area, chickens would be a number one choice. Submitted By: Erika
- Please add that snail and slug baits are very poisonous to pets and can cause death in as little as three hours. They often look like pet food pellets and are palatable. So keep pets awawy from areas of use and keep packages out of pets' reach. Submitted By: Deborah
- One quick way to rid your garden of slugs and snails is to use Bug Getta (slug and snail) bait by Ortho. It is in granule form. Another important tip: minumize moisture in the shady areas of lawn/garden. This may done by allowing the area to dry completely before it is watered again. Also, sitting water located under stones,plant containters and their saucers need to be eliminated. These are great homes for snails and slugs. Submitted By: Wesbrooks
- I know it's not organic and probably won't work for those who have dogs, but I have had fantastic luck with Bug-Geta by Ortho. I apply it once in early spring/late winter, then once again 2-3 months later, and I'm good for the rest of the year! Submitted By: Lisa in Houston
- I have tried beer and also coffee grinds...unfortunately the only thing that works for me is slug bait..I sprinkle these little pellets around my hosta and it works great but I hate using chemicals...it is so bad for the envirionment...plus the good insects eat it too...Please help me be save my garden naturally. Submitted By: Joanne
- Snailban crystals sprinkled around your yard,dense areas,within and around the nursery.This has worked for me and if they show up again you repeat sprinkling. Submitted By: Michael
- Here in south Louisiana we are overrun with slugs and snails! Beer never worked to get rid of large numbers of the critters and I thought it too much trouble anyway. After a rain I was always outside, trying to handpick and step on, or salt as many as I could but that was an impossible task. About 5 years ago, we applied a commonly available slug/snail bait that is unfortunately toxic to pets, birds and wildlife, but we did wipe out all the slugs in our yard. The snails however were not phased..
Last year, I learned of a slug/snail bait that is safe for pets, birds and wildlife and found it to be successful against snails for awhile. It did seem to require repeat applications approximately every month so I used it only in pot plants and around certain plants in the ground that the slimy creatures especially loved. It is marketed under different brands. Some garden centers carry it but may not have it in large quantities so look for it now before they sell out for the season. The active ingredient is iron phosphate so that is what to look for in the fine print, and the package should say "safe for wildlife and pets". The way I understand it works is the slugs/snails eat the iron phosphate pellets, and it causes them to stop eating and a few days later they starve to death. Whatever iron they don't eat will break down as a supplemental fertilizer for your plants, so you get a little bonus. Submitted By: Betsy
