Prevent Slugs From Destroying Your Crops

Slugs travel in groups and can lay up to 400 eggs a year, with each slug living for up to 2 years so for every slug, you get 800 more! It is no wonder whole rows of crops can disappear overnight.   

To tackle slugs effectively you need an action plan. Start with slug nematodes, these are tiny worm like creatures, not visible by the human eye. 12 million will fit through your letterbox in what looks like a fast food container and the contents actually look like wet sand. You mix with water, pour them around your garden and within in a couple of days the slugs start to die. 

These natural slug enemies are already in the soil, just not enough of them, so topping up the slug nematode population helps to reduce the slug problem. Want to know how they do it? They enter the slug and release bacteria which then multiplies and the slug stops moving.  

And of course, because these are already in the soil, causing no harm to children, pets or wildlife applying them is totally safe. Apply 2 to 3 days before planting to help manage your slug population before planting your crops. 

Another effective and popular option is Sluggo, these slug pellets contain an active ingredient which make the slug poorly and slide back under the soil to die. Most slug pellets kill earth worms so the best thing about Sluggo is that it doesn’t. So, it gets rid of slugs and keeps earth worms safe, it’s a win-win! Again, another safe product to use in your garden or allotment. 

You can also use copper tape, especially good for your pot plants, it is like an electric fence for the slugs, every time a slug touches the copper it gets an electric shock. Just stick around the pots, always make sure there are not leaves overhanging or the crafty slugs will get on the plant via a safe route avoiding the copper.