Ways To Kill Slugs

The premise of this section is simple, to cover the many strategies to kill this slimy troublemaker. The list below is not exhaustive by any means but should give you ample ideas on how to get rid of slugs. I suspect that this may be a popular page as I know that the topic of how to kill slugs is very hot among allotmenteers and gardeners. So put on the kettle, have a nice cup of tea,  and spent some time digesting these many myrid of ways of killing slugs

Slug Pellets
One of the first methods a gardener often tries is the humble slug pellet. It is fairy cheap option and there are now many organic brands on the market for those considering the environmental impact of their actions.

Be careful which of the pellet you choose, as you need to make sure it is safe for pets and children. Many pellets will contain chemicals, such as metaldehyde and methiocarb, which are harmful. There are pellets available that minmise or even eliminate these harmful chemicals. There are even some made from the fleece of sheep but these act more as a deterrent rather than killing the slug.

When you do use the pellets, especially those that have a strong chemical component, do not over use, as the scent of the pellets is very strong and using too many will confuse the slug.

Nematodes
This is the so-called biological control and it has become a popular choice in slug control. Many allotment holders I know, including myself ,are using these on a regular basis.

The nematode is a microscopic worm. There are many species of this predatory parasite, and phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita is the one that specifically targets slugs. It does this by entering the slug’s body and laying its eggs, the host slug then dies. This always reminds me of Ridley Scott's film Alien. 

Nematodes are usually supplied in packs of fine powder. This powder is added to water and mixed before applying to the soil, a water can with a fine rose is a good choice for this. If the nematodes are not being used straight away they need to be kept refrigerated, this appears to be a squeamish proposition for some housewives!

It is worth remembering these useful worms only last for about 6 or 7 weeks in the soil, after which a new batch will need to be reapplied.

Even though this is more costly than most other methods they do seem to work. Over the last three years of using these, compared to the three years prior when I didn't, there has been a noticeable drop in the slug population. More importantly far less of my potatoes have been lost to slug damage.

In the UK Nematodes are usually ony available between March and October and the most popular brand is Nemaslug.

Beer Trap
This is a method I have used on a regular basis with good success. It involves filling a shallow container, for example a plastic plant saucer, with beer and sinking it into the soil. The slugs are attracted to the beer into the container and drown in a boozy death. Make sure to have the lip of the container raised slightly above the level of the soil, you want the slugs to climb in but not the beneficial ground beetles that feast on them. This is one of the more visual ways of eliminating this pest. It is surprising how many little slimy corpses will pile up overnight.

Some have reported being successful using milk instead of beer,

Oats
Believe it or not slugs like oats. Which on their part is a mistake, as the humble oat will swell inside the slug killing it. A fairly cheap option but personally I keep my oats for breakfast with honey and banana.

Caffeine
Caffeine has often been used as a barrier to stop slugs. In fact I rather suspect my allotment neighbour has received a coffee machine for Christmas as there is a thick band of old coffee grounds around many of her plants. Interestingly recent evidence has shown that caffeine can also kill slugs. This news article explains more.

Ammonia
A mixture of ammonia diluted with water will certainly do the trick. Many recommend ten parts water to one part ammonia. Be warned that ammonia is powerful stuff and could easily damage your plants and more useful creatures such as the earthworm.

Salt
Sprinkling salt on slugs will kill them in a most gruesome way. For those with an evil streak in them this could prove satisfying, but in reality this is impractical on a large scale and the extra salt in the ground is not good for soil or plants.

Swords and Spears
Well ok, not really swords and spears. There are however many gardeners who have a dedicated pair of scissors or a needle taped to the end of a stick to inflict a bladed death on the slug. Personally I just squish them with whatever I have to hand, or sometimes foot.


As you can see from above, there are many ways to kill slugs. Pick your method. Heed this call to arms against this slimy beast. Whether you arm yourself with nematodes or oats or a completely unique method join the fight! Curb the menace!

Click the above image to kill slugs