Question About Slug Bait

lovesallanimals · ‎03-11-2010

I grow a lot of tomatoes and other vegetables and I am a little confused about the way to use those slug bait pellets. I usually put them in front of my beds, not on them. I read that you can put the slug bait directly around the plants but if you do that aren't you attracting the slugs to come right up to your plants? I would think the bait should be away from the vegetables, near but not on the beds. What do you all think? Oh, also the organic slug bait said it acts as a natural fertilizer but I don't want slugs crawling all over my vegetables beds seeking out this "food".

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

I sprinkle the pellets around plants that slugs are eating, or have eaten in the past. There's no need to put pellets around plants in which they have no interest.

Jtdmum · ‎03-17-2010

I'm not really up to date on slug bait. I try to keep the areas near my veggies as chemical free as I can. (pets)

I usually just put a jar lid or empty tuna can into the dirt so the top of the can is level with the dirt and fill it with stale beer. The slugs are attracted to it and fall in and drown.

Has worked great. I also have used copper tape in the past when I had raised beds. You can find it in just any garden center. I went around the bed with the tape and it kept them away.

Good luck!

Another new name Sue · ‎03-11-2010

You are overthinking this. I assume you are using something like Sluggo, right? Just sprinkle it on the soil around the base of your plants if you are experiencing slug damage.

dex · ‎03-09-2010

I put the bait around a wide perimeter of the veg that I am trying to protect.I also put washed crushed egg shells close to the plants.Dlugs don’t l8je that.You can sprinkle some cayenne pepper on the soil and nothing seems to like that.

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

@Jtdmum "Slug Bait" is just iron phosphate, not a poison. Iron is very bad for a slug's digestion, i.e. deadly. But it's safe for pets and other wildlife. It's sold under brand names like Sluggo, Escar-Go, and Bonide's Slug Magic. And adding a little iron to the soil isn't a bad thing.

JustJazzmom · ‎03-09-2010

There are 2 kinds of slug products. One acts as a repellent (iron phosphate is the active ingredient) & slug killers (Ortho Bug Geta Plus is one product). Ortho label says keep out of reach of children butnis safe to use among pets & wildlife.

Follow label directions on both products. Slugs do live in your lawn, come out at night.

☼The best place to seek God is in a garden. You can dig for him there. GBShaw☼

misscecille · ‎08-22-2010

Our landscaper told us to use beer. Put out cheap plastic covers and pour really cheap beer and the slugs love it! Give it a try because it sure worked for us!

beach-mom · ‎03-09-2010

@misscecille wrote:
Our landscaper told us to use beer. Put out cheap plastic covers and pour really cheap beer and the slugs love it! Give it a try because it sure worked for us!

My parents did this all of the time, and it worked for them too! My dad would put a shallow plastic bowl of beer by the garden. They were attracted to it and would try to get to it. Then they were no more!