Bury a tall cup with steep sides into the soil. Some work better than others: These traps work well, but you need to have them fairly regularly throughout the garden, and they need to be replenished often, so they make the most sense in small gardens. Most DIY techniques do not work, or have a limited effect. 5,703 views Oct 20, 2019 How to get rid of slugs in the garden using ammonia sprayed on soil, hosta leaves or directly on the slug. I sprinkled salt as a barrier on the bricks around my plants and havent lost any plants to snails since then. Make sure you dont get this on your hosta leaves because it can burn them. This year I just included pine needles to my arsenal. However, the ammonia has to come into direct contact with the eggs for it to work. They DO NOT promote the idea that spraying plants or soil works. After youve started planting, put up a fence around your vegetation; this will keep them from getting at your veggies, but it will also dismiss your slug problem. weve had some success with beer. This is a wonderful article an great responses too. Good luck! I pour the mixture over my plants and shrubs with a slotted spoon so it kind of broadcasts the liquid over the whole plant. The trap did indeed catch many slugs. That last racing snail story was great! Though the iron phosphate will disrupt the slugs digestive systems and eventually kill them, it will also benefit the plants and flowers by providing a nutritious source of iron. One other deterrent for snails and slugs is electricity. Bait and Trap A good point to remember is that to bait gastropods is to attract them - so keep bait and traps a safe distance from any plants you want to protect. Along with working on slugs and aphids, ammonia is a great bug deterrent because it has such a sharp and strong odor. That is the best thing I can think of that will be a sure thing. Over time, the ammonia can get converted to nitrate to increase your soils acidity. This article was quite extensive and full of great ideas. I do wish youd mention it. But then ideally, we want the garden to be relatively moist for the health of the plants and the soil food web, so a strategy that can sometimes work for getting rid of snails and slugs is to make sure theres a very dry area around the perimeter of the garden. So you can ask for advice, but always test everything out before you spray entire areas to kill the slugs. This article has been viewed 2,025,048 times. Ill do the 9 or 10 parts water stronger solution for the first round. Trying to save your plants can send you searching for alternatives, and I know it surprised me when I found out that you can kill slugs with ammonia. Other herbs and plants which may deter these critters include garlic, fennel, and even geraniums. unlocking this expert answer. There must be something. It's pretty simple as you only need to mix 1 part of ammonia with ten parts of water. Again, there is a debate on which dilution ratio works best, by 9 or 10 parts water to 1 part ammonia seems to do the trick. The oily substance makes it difficult for the slugs to pass and get into the soil. Look for low-dose metaldehyde products with less environmental impact. An added benefit of this technique is that the ammonia provides a nitrogen feed for the plants. So it's good for your plants. Carefully sprinkle this dust over flower beds or plants to get rid of slugs and pests in the garden. Ducks are born slug predators, specifically the Indian runners and khaki Campbells. Ammonia is a very irritating and colorless gas that has a very sharp odor. Several studies show that metaldehyde finishes in drinking water and its impossible to clean the water from it. But ammonia can actually be sprayed on your plants (although it generally will evaporate off and won't continue to deter slugs) and will provide a source of nitrogen to your plants when sprayed in the soil. The truth about baits: https://www.gardenmyths.com/slug-bait-metaldehyde-iron-phosphate/. I tried a quick test. You can use ammonia to kill pest eggs around your hostas in the soil. Just be sure to thoroughly water your plants the next morning to get rid of any salty residues. Give them a few hours in the morning to get under the carpet, then pick the pieces up and discard the slugs in hiding. Its always best to start with a more diluted measure and work your way up to avoid accidental damage. Did you know you can get premium answers for this article? Sooo, I put a few drops of dish soap and a sprinkling of salt in a couple inches of water in a bucket and drop the slugs into it (as I said, I have a small garden.) If you would like to change your settings or withdraw consent at any time, the link to do so is in our privacy policy accessible from our home page.. We had a home brew batch not turn out and that worked great. Yes, and no. Mix the ingredients and spray the soil with it. Although this approach is more hands-on than beer traps, it does not cost nearly as much as beer and I believe it is working a lot better. And it is approved for organic use! For a hands-off approach, spray slugs and snails with a vinegar solution (1 cup water to 1/2 cup vinegar). Put into bowl covered with cheesecloth. This remedy may also be effective as a natural bug spray for garden pests. Slugs are tiny, creepy crawly creatures. The main difference is that snails have a shell, while slugs dont. Directly on a snail or slug just like magic Im in Florida and have a lot of potted plants with trays underneath for retaining water. It is added to some slug products to control insects. To make this spray, in a small spray bottle, combine three ounces of household ammonia with 16 ounces of water. i mean the sugar lol. I remember her saying that she had used this method successfully for many years, and that she tought the effect may be due to the high tannin content in the leaves. Have you ever tried creating your own natural slug repellent? Slugs can be stubborn little critters, and slug control methods can be challenging to find at a moments notice. No more snails! Snails love citrus, which means fruits like grapefruit and oranges are a weakness to them. All else is too iffy. Ammonia occurs naturally as plant material decays. Thx again. Like you, we dont have any magic cures. I guess companies are trying to make a better cleaning product that does not smell so badly. Apparently soapy water also works. I never let them spray around my unit. I dont think spinosad harms slugs and snails. I made a lot of discoveries! Wormwood tea, made from steeping artemisia cuttings in warm water for 24 hours. Alternatively, you can encourage wild beetles to stay near your plants by providing dry refuges under stones, grass, or straw. Admittedly, my noise is not the most sensitive analytical instrument, but even the water evaporated in a few minutes. Finding out that you can kill slugs with ammonia can open the door to a whole new opportunity to treat a slug infestation in your garden and save your hostas. Would using limestone as mulch detere slugs. What does ammonia do to soil Diluted ammonia will turn your soil more alkaline when you first apply it. Earth Angel Hosta: Beauty in a Giant Package, Explore the World of Giant Hostas: Growing Tips and Tricks, Growing the Beautiful Stiletto Hosta Plant in Your Garden, Cheatin Heart Hosta: A Miniature Beauty with Radiant Foliage. Crushed Eggshells. Thanks! How can you recommend the use of chemical baits nowadays !? Will last a while even during rainy weather. The only drawback with this is that you need to reapply after a heavy rain. Snails/slugs love to live under the trays, so I put the borax underneath. You can spray this solution right onto the flowers and plants and it doesn't hurt them. 3 Make a copper strip barrier. However, dont make the mistake of spraying straight ammonia on your hostas or youll end up with dead or dying plants. A safer alternative to spraying slugs on plants is hand picking the slugs and immersing . Sprinkle the bran onto plants and gardens youd like to keep slugs away from and check up the slugs occasionally. Use dollar store sprayer to spray the ground or poke holes in the cap and sprinkle the complete perimeter of your garden. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Get-Rid-of-Garden-Slugs-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Get-Rid-of-Garden-Slugs-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/9\/98\/Get-Rid-of-Garden-Slugs-Step-1-Version-4.jpg\/aid2449-v4-728px-Get-Rid-of-Garden-Slugs-Step-1-Version-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"