Buzz
Have you noticed slippery, shiny trails inside your house or on your garden plants? If you also spot holes of various shapes on your plant leaves, the culprits are likely the slugs in your garden. You may have heard that salt is an effective way to kill slugs, but before trying this trick, it’s important to understand a few things. We’ll answer some of the most common questions to help you deal with slugs both indoors and outdoors in your garden!
Steps
Why do slugs die when they come into contact with salt?
Salt draws moisture from the slug's body, leading to dehydration. The slug's skin is thin and fragile, offering little protection. Each time the slug encounters salt, it secretes a lot of mucus in an attempt to cleanse itself. After a few minutes, the slug can no longer produce enough mucus to protect its body, leading to complete dehydration and death.
Should I sprinkle salt on slugs if I see them on my plants?
No, salt can damage plants and disrupt the soil's balance. Salt can leave burn marks on the leaves, branches, and buds of plants, so it’s best not to scatter salt near your crops. When it dissolves into the soil, it can draw moisture from the plant's roots and potentially kill the entire plant. For optimal results, wait until the slug moves to a spot far away from valuable plants.
- If your plant is in a pot, you may sprinkle salt around the outside of the pot, but the salt is likely to wash away or make a mess.
How can I get slugs to leave the plants so I can sprinkle salt?
Place a board on the moist soil overnight to create a hiding spot for slugs. Water a patch of soil in the late afternoon and lay a board or cardboard on top. Leave a gap by placing the board on a brick or stone so the slug can crawl underneath. Ensure the board is near the ground for easy access. The next morning, lift the board to find the slugs hiding there. You can either pick them up one by one or scrape them off the board.
- Slugs need a shady place to avoid drying out.
Go into the garden at night and manually collect slugs. Water your garden in the late afternoon and moisten the plants affected by slugs. Once it’s dark, return to the garden with a flashlight and gloves. Check the underside of the leaves for slugs and collect them.
- If you don’t have gloves or prefer not to touch the slugs, you can use tongs to pick them up.
How can I use salt to eliminate slugs?
Sprinkle salt directly on the slug to stop it in its tracks. You can use any type of salt to kill slugs. Whenever you spot a slug moving away from your plants, simply sprinkle a pinch of salt on it. The slug may begin to writhe or secrete more mucus. Within minutes, it will dehydrate and die. Dispose of the dead slug in a plastic bag.
- Slugs secrete a lot of mucus when they die, which can soil the ground or floor. It’s best to use salt outdoors, away from plants or surfaces you want to keep clean.
Drop slugs into saltwater when you catch them. Prepare a salt solution by mixing 7 parts water with 1 part salt, then pour it into a plastic container with a lid. Whenever you capture a slug, simply drop it into the saltwater and close the lid. Let the slug stay in the container for at least 2 days before disposing of it in a plastic bag and throwing it in the trash.
- Don’t use slugs for composting, as they may carry dangerous roundworm parasites.
Is it cruel to sprinkle salt on slugs?
Slugs have pain receptors, so salt can cause them distress. Some studies suggest that soft-bodied animals like snails and slugs do feel pain, so using salt to dehydrate them may not be the most humane approach. If you’ve ever had salt in your eyes, you can imagine what a slug feels when it encounters salt.
Are there any other ways to get rid of slugs without using salt?
Set up a beer trap to lure slugs and drown them. Pour beer into a bowl or a deep container and bury it in the garden so the rim is at least 2.5 cm above the ground. The smell of the beer will attract slugs, and they’ll fall in and drown overnight. You can check the beer bowl the next morning and dispose of it if you find slugs inside.
- Change the beer every few days to keep it fresh.
Introduce roundworms (nematodes) into the soil to infect and kill slugs. Beneficial nematodes are soil-dwelling microorganisms that infect pests with harmful bacteria. You can purchase nematodes at garden stores and mix them with water according to the instructions on the package. In the spring, release the nematodes in the evening when the soil is still warm and moist.
Try feeding the slugs bran to fatten them up and attract birds to eat them. Sprinkle some bran around the base of your plants to encourage slugs to leave the leaves. As the slugs consume the bran, they’ll become bloated and slightly dehydrated, making it harder for them to move. Birds will then easily spot and enjoy a free meal when the slugs try to escape.
Warning
Always wear gloves or use tongs when handling exposed snails as they may carry parasitic roundworms.
