When left on their own gardens, slugs will rapidly destroy a garden. However, there are simple ways to stop slugs from getting into your garden and get rid of them if there is an active slug problem.
What Are Slugs?
Slugs are a frequent garden pest that is found in nearly all regions of the world and are particularly prevalent in climates with humid conditions. They are not insects as other garden pests like ground beetles, spider mites. They are an mollusk species that is closer to clams.
Some slugs are also decomposers, which means they thrive on dead plant material However, the slugs that you’ll find within your yard, like common garden slugs as well as black slugs, are more likely to feed on live plant material. Slugs in the garden generally feed during the night, which could make them difficult to distinguish them as culprits in damage to plants.
What Does Slug Damage Look Like?
Be aware of the indicators of damage caused by slugs on your plants will help you keep track of the issue. Pay attention to your the leaves, stems and flowers, and also the ground for indications of a slug issue.
- 1. Holes The leaves or flowers in your garden plants could have holes of varying sizes that slugs eaten through the leaves. There are also holes in vegetables or fruits.
- 2. Edges that are ragged Plant stems and leaves could have edges that are ragged, and look as bite marks.
- 3. The loss of plants that are vulnerable Seedlings could be eaten completely, leaving only their stems left.
- 4. slime trail Slime trails of slugs are visible on stems, leaves, as well as on the ground, and on mulch that surrounds the plant.
- 5. Eggs of a slug Look under the surface of the leaves for eggs that are tiny white slugs.
What Attracts Slugs to the Garden?
If you’re concerned about slugs coming into gardens in the near future or if you already are suffering from a slug infestation Knowing the exact factors that attract slugs will help you adopt the right preventative measures.
Soil that is wet
Slugs must keep their bodies hydrated constantly to avoid dehydration, which is why they prefer humid soil. If you regularly water your garden so that your soil remains always moist, or if the soil you’re working with isn’t draining well it is more likely to draw snails. It is best to let your soil dry between irrigations.
Garden stones and logs
Slugs look for refuge under large objects that provide shade, moisture and hiding spots. Try rotating or removing these items to discourage the slugs.
Dead leaves
dried leaves be an excellent mulch, or compost addition however they also provide an ideal habitat for Slugs. When the masses of leaves decay they hold water, allowing slugs get shade and remain well-hydrated.
Plants that are nutrient dense
Slugs prefer to eat plants that are rich in nutrients, and that have lots of fleshy, large-sized leaves like marigolds.
How to Prevent Slugs in the Garden
Slug prevention is a lot more effective than tackling the active invasion.
- 1. Reduce the frequency of watering. Slugs love damp and moist conditions, so be thinking about watering your garden less often or watering in the morning so that the soil can have enough time to dry.
- 2. Make the switch to drip-irrigation. Drip irrigation is an efficient method of watering plants. With drip irrigation, you can use a drip irrigation system allows you to supply water directly to plant roots instead of flooding the entire area, as the case with overhead irrigation.
- 3. Choose plants that resist slugs. There are certain plants that slugs don’t look for, like flowers that smell good and plants with fuzzy leaves. Utilize these plants to establish an attractive border to help protect plants that are more vulnerable.
- 4. Encourage natural predators. Slugs have a variety of natural predators to help to keep them away. Frogs, snakes and birds beetles and lizards all consume slugs within your garden, so you should consider keeping them around.
- 5. Use wool to cover your garden. Some gardeners utilize wool to repel slugs because they are known to dislike climbing on the rough surface. Sprinkle wool on the outside of the garden , or around the plant’s base. This technique is best suited for smaller gardens and flower beds, since larger gardens may require excessive amounts of wool.
