Slugs arouse our hatred when they eat precious seedlings, but they also recycle dead plant materials and become food themselves for garter snakes, frogs, toads and some birds.
Since they're prolific breeders, controlling their damage is the most reasonable goal.
Most at risk are tiny seedlings during their first few weeks. This is when one or two hungry slugs can destroy a whole crop in one night - especially if it's been planted in a straight line.
One of my favourite protections is sticky copper tape. Circling a band around a container of seedlings is effective protection, while for garden seedlings, bottomless plastic containers banded around with copper tape can be popped over susceptible plants.
But I have found copper barriers most effective when new and shiny. It's best taken out of the garden when un-needed and stored in a dry place to use for the next batch of seedlings.
Fence type copper barriers need frequent checking. Rain can open tunnels underneath while leaves of taller plants may form bridges over the top. Also, some slugs may be hiding in the soil when you install your copper fence.
Polycarbonate juice containers, bottomless, with the tops removed and plastic mesh covering the opening make great slug protection when they're pushed into the earth and are a mini-greenhouse at the same time.
Substances intended to deter slugs include crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, grit, garlic and perlite (none of which worked for me). Diatomaceous earth seemed to do better, but it needs care to avoid inhaling it. Lime is reputed to work but must be redone if it rains.
Sneaky tricks for slugs include slug saloons with beer in which slugs blissfully drown - these need to be cleaned out each day if you want to avoid a truly disgusting experience. Some gardeners put out planks or grapefruit halves where slugs hide, are discovered and destroyed.
But desperate gardeners may use non-toxic ferrous iron slug bait, salting or ammonia spray.
But learning slug habits encourages gentler methods. Watering at night is like a party invitation to a slug. They tend to be territorial going back to the same feeding zone every night. But they don't usually travel more than 100 feet for a meal (which gives gardeners an idea how far to trap-andrelease them).
Slugs are hermaphrodites who mate, but can also be self-fertile. The result can be 300 eggs a year usually laid in groups of 10 to 20. Chickens enjoy eating slug eggs.
Just one slug is worth welcoming into your garden: that's the native black-and-yellow banana slug, a strikingly beautiful forest dweller whose main food interest is mushrooms.
Anne Marrison is happy to answer garden questions. Send them to her by email, [email protected].
