One of the most frustrating garden pests is slugs. They often feed upon plants at night when we’re not there to see them—and pluck them from the plants—and for such tiny creatures, they can do a lot of damage. While they’re not the easiest pest to remedy, there are strategies to take care of slugs.

Slugs in Home Gardens by University of Minnesota Extension

What Doesn’t Work

A common method of deterring slugs is using coffee grounds and eggshells. I’ve heard about these for years, but they don’t seem to work in the long run.

Handpicking Slugs

Theoretically, you could go out every morning and handpick slugs. If you only have a few, this could be feasible, but for most of the people I know who deal with slugs, it seems like an all-or-nothing situation. It could become overwhelming. If you’ve been trying to pick up slugs to no avail, your next option might be to grab a beer.

Go for the Beer Again

If you’ve been trying to pick up slugs but haven’t been successful, your next option might be to grab a beer.

As I mentioned in my previous article, What to Do When Pill Bugs Eat Your Plants, I used beer to bait slugs when I was a kid. Pour about 1/2 inch of beer (the cheap stuff is fine) into a tuna can or similar-sized container, and place it in a shallow hole that allows it to be flush with the soil. The slugs are attracted to the sweet smell, and it will crawl inside and drown.

The drawback is you have to check this regularly, at least once a day, and empty out the gross, drowned slugs.

Copper Tape Shockingly Works

There are conflicting reports on using copper tape for slug control. Some gardeners swear by it, while others say it wastes time. There is a level of conductivity between the slug’s slimy body and the copper, resulting in a mild shock to the slug. And while people have used thin copper strips, say an inch or less, with little success, those who opt for three-inch tape report excellent results.

If you use copper tape, find the three-inch or greater version. Outline your plants, creating a frame around each one, and make sure there is not soil or debris on top of the tape to reduce the conductivity. More than likely, the slugs will turn around when they touch it.

Effective Slug Killers

There are several chemical slug killers on the market that use metaldehyde. This option undoubtedly works well, but there are strong warnings about using it around pets. If you have a severe slug infestation yet don’t want the heavy-duty chemicals, look for products made with iron phosphate, which is considered safe around pets and people.

Iron phosphate messes with the slugs’ digestive system, causing them to stop eating and perish. Scatter the iron phosphate granules or pellets around your plants. The good news is the pellets do not dissolve rapidly, so you do not have to replenish the product after every rain or watering. Please read the label of the one you choose to decide how often you might need to reapply it.

For such slow-moving creatures, slugs (and snails, for that matter) can do a lot of damage in the garden. Try these techniques to stay ahead of them.