A spray bottle filled with plain white vinegar is a great cure for slugs that aren't on plants. An extremely effective mollusk dissolver, vinegar is also an herbicide-so don't spritz the salvia. 15) Or Garlic. New research has shown that garlic kills slugs.
Mix equal parts water and vinegar in a pump spray bottle, go out into your garden in the evening (the hours that snails and slugs are usually active) and spray any you see. As vinegar is mildly acidic, it will kill any snails or slugs it touches.
A vinegar water mix or just straight vinegar will kill snails and slugs but must be sprayed directly on them. It works in the same way as salt does. Vinegar is an acid and dissolves the mucus soaked slime blobs we call snails and slugs. Put salt on a slug and the same thing happens.
Sage, rosemary, parsley, and thyme are all beautiful additions to your garden and also deter snails. Plant them in a border around your garden and between vulnerable plants to ward of slugs and snails.
Garlic, Lawn Chamomile, chives. Some plants repel most slugs and snails and these may have a deterrent effect when planted alongside or used to make an extract. Many gardeners swear by garlic as a natural pest control. Some say chives are effective it the leaves are tied around vulnerable plants; sounds fiddly.
Coffee grounds scattered on top of the soil will deter slugs and snails and they are killed when sprayed with a very strong (double strength) solution of coffee. Strong garlic sprays will act as a deterrant and will kill soft bodied snails and insects.
Coarse substances like ground-up eggshells, sandpaper, and lava rock will provide an effective barrier for snails. You can also get rid of snails with coffee grounds. Research has found that a 1-2% caffeine solution will kill snails, while coffee grounds will simply form a barrier snails do not like to cross.
Baking soda works like salt; it will dry out and kill the snail, according to the North Coast Journal.
Want to banish the worst garden pests but avoid harsh pesticides? Try Epsom salt. To get rid of snails and slugs, sprinkle a ring of Epsom salt around the base of your plants. To get rid of other pests, spray the foliage with a mixture of 1 cup Epsom salts per 5 gallons of water.
4. WD-40. To deter snails in your container garden, you can set up barriers around your plants or their containers. For example, you can spray a band of waterproof WD-40 around your containers, and the snails and slugs will be unable to climb up it.
Keep Pests Away
Sprinkle baking soda on your soil with a flour sifter to keep ants, roaches and slugs away from your garden. (Be sure to avoid your plants!)
Diluting brewed coffee with an equal part water is plenty to do the job. Coffee grounds have been recommended in the past as an organic method to keep slugs and snails out of your flower and vegetable beds. Grounds will repel slugs, but the USDA research team confirms that a caffeine solution is more effective.
Trish (Tauranga): "Make a small flat container out of tin foil and put three or four slices of cucumber on it. The cucumber and tin foil together seem to give off an unnoticed smell that slugs and snails don't like.
There are a handful of plants which are believed to be a natural repellent for slugs. What you need: Slug repelling plants “ Living Green suggest that wormwood, rue, fennel, anise, and rosemary are the best slug repelling plants.
The small amount of dish soap prevents snails, slugs and even caterpillars from escaping.
One way to kill snails and slugs during manual collection is to drop them into a bucket of hot soapy water. Or, a container with salt – which will also kill them. With plain cool water, they will simply crawl back out.
Cinnamon
To deter slugs, simply sprinkle a layer of cinnamon around the base of your plants and leave. This will stick to the slugs' bodies if they start to cross the line, prompting them to turn back – reapply after rain. The strong scent of the cinnamon will also deter slugs further.
It is important to place pellets under cover to prevent access by other types of animals. Another effective deterrent is copper tape or strips. These will give snails an electric shock as soon as they come in contact with it. Placing the strip on the floor by the doors will act as a barrier.
Spread salt or baking soda.
This is a lethal option, so, if you are trying to naturally deter snails without killing them, this is not the option to choose. Baking soda and salt dry out snails and slugs, which will kill them.
Pest Deterrent: Pre-steeped bags are a great way to rid your garden of slugs, bugs, and rodents: just sprinkle the wet or dry leaves directly onto the soil. According to Tip Hero, the caffeine also deters pests from eating, nibbling, or peeing on your garden turf.
Salt: Pouring salt around your veg will keep the slugs away indeed, but unless your plants like maritime conditions they will die too!