Thanks so much for taking the time to share, Susan, thats great! He increased the ratio of alcohol to water to 50/50 and it worked even better. The disease is serious and can sometimes be fatal to humans. Along with working on slugs and aphids, ammonia is a great bug deterrent because it has such a sharp and strong odor. #3. How about pinecones as mulch? One thing youll learn is that there are many types of ammonia available, and not all types are created equal. Pour out the ammonia, and rinse the tank with clean water several times. This fence will not kill the slug; it will merely act as a slug deterrent. If that is true, what is the safe dilution ratio? We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Blessings. Step 4. unlocking this expert answer. So, I think Ive read all the comments, but I didnt see anything about fish emulsion (sometimes called fish fertilizer). Ammonia can also be used as a slug repellent, but it should be used with caution. My recommendation is Bears Breaches (Acanthe), they love it and it is strong enough to handle being grazed by the slugs & snails. How to Kill and Remove a Tree Stump Yourself, How to Get Rid of Ant Nests in Potted Plants, How to Drive Away Gnats for Good: Easy DIY Methods, How to Kill a Tree with or without Chemicals. You may have to make adjustments if youre working with different plants around your hostas. Crushing up eggshells at home is a great way to implement pest control methods for slugs. If you have any doubt, test. Certain plants, we did test. And the alcohol/water solution has not damaged any of our vegetable plants. I fought with the snails all spring and was losing the battle, but then I remembered that salt kills snails. Thx again. The holes they leave on my hostas and lillys are terrible and ugly. Take strands of hair from a brush and spread them out over the soil. It can easily burn the leaves. Hi Phil; love all the forwards theyre fun and informative. Keep children and pets out of areas where out of areas where you are using ammonia solutions. Your plants will absorb ammonium and nitrate through the assimilation process. It takes very little. Spraying works, if I go out every couple of hours, which, is exhausting. Citrus Peels 16. Sprinkle the grounds on top of the soil youre protecting and watch the slugs run away. Because theyre little, and because they have to get from point A to point B by squirming around, it can be challenging for them to get where theyre going. However, you'll need to know how well to prepare this remedy. Thank you for the mention ! However, this is true of many garden chemicals available in stores. Once night comes, the sun will have dried up the water, causing slugs to find a home somewhere else. Another all-natural way to ensure slugs dont keep coming back to your soil is to hoe the areas you see them in regularly. Other herbs and plants which may deter these critters include garlic, fennel, and even geraniums. Use them to form a barricade around your plants or planting beds. You can mix equal parts of ammonia and water in a spray bottle and apply it directly to the hostas. Calcified seaweed meal is better, if you can find it. Eggshells Control Slugs Do They Really Work? Boil the water and mix with the coffee grounds until its fully dissolved. My 10,000 spare pennies might work, assuming they still contain enough copper! I live in michigan and new at gardening. Enjoy! Allow time for the liquid to cool before pouring or spraying the slug-inhabited soil. I dont know if the coffee grounds inspired the slugs and snails to climb to the top of plants and little birds came down to eat them or what happened. Pouring undiluted ammonia onto plant leaves could harm them and is not something that should be suggested. It is added to some slug products to control insects. Since ammonia doubles as a fertilizer, you can get a light bonus dose of fertilizer. Just be aware that it has an extremely sharp odor and never mix it in a closed space. Take the same care using this chemical outside as you would in your home. I decided to be drastic in an attempt to make them go faster and I removed the shells to my surprise this just made them more sluggish. This powder-like substance or DE is the remains of microscopic creatures and is deadly to other small insects and creatures who come in contact with it. And snails too? If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Helped lots. Thanks John. Over time, the ammonia can get converted to nitrate to increase your soils acidity. ", butternut squash and pumpkin plant, they ate overnight. The plants will benefit from the nitrogen, and the slugs will tangle themselves up in the strands of hair and die. Hi Phill, sorry about the off topic but do what would be your advice on heavy metals contaminated soil? Theyll come soon enough. Short and Long-Term Results of Killing Slugs with Ammonia. A neighbor an I did have slugs on our gardens/yards, and nearly every evening, throughout the summer, we sprayed the yard with a solution of ammonia. Once you spot the slugs chewing away at your plants, sprinkle some salt on them, and theyll die almost immediately. Yes, even slugs. The reason for this is because seaweed is salty, and slugs do not like salt. Dog Or Cat Food The plants were spectacularly undamaged, so I ve never forgotten! Well, you did not ask THAT question. Advertisement. 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. Its also a common fertilizer ingredient that works forhostas in potsand hostas in the garden. I used the bucket of water and Dawn detergent to toss the slugs into, and that killed them nicely. We and our partners use cookies to Store and/or access information on a device. In approximately three to five days, the slugs will die from their predators actively seeking them. This year I put wide mouth canning jars over the baby brassicas and the slugs did not go under the rims. Kills them in seconds and does no harm to my grass or plants. I did find a place in my garage where the rats had been dining on snails and found piles of empty pieces of snail shells there! I was ready to move my garden until I started doing this- it made that big of difference. If youre looking for a useful slug killer tip, grind up your coffee beans or head to the local market and pick up coffee grounds. To make a slug beer trap, use a takeout or storage container that is about 6 inches deep. Yes. Ammonia works to kill aphids, and its toxic to a range of insects. Ammonia is a very irritating and colorless gas that has a very sharp odor. Ammonia works on snails and adult slugs. Also, if your hostas are surrounded by other types of plants, be very careful. This deterrent may also repel unwanted insects. Eventually I was elected to the board and was in charge of the landscaping committee. I have written extensively about this topic. its good to have options. Ive seen people use ammonia as a fertilizer, but I wanted to use it as a pesticide to get rid of the slugs without pouring nasty chemicals into my hostas like Id get with some commercial-grade pesticides. Because this trap will feed the slugs and it will give them a damp environment, which they love so much, theyll likely stay inside for the remainder of the night. Will Ammonia Kill Bugs Yes. Try a google search for: slugs 9v battery. Im using them on my pathways and have avoided having any slugs on them. Most bags of food-grade DE come with a convenient spreader to disperse the powder. Give them a few hours in the morning to get under the carpet, then pick the pieces up and discard the slugs in hiding. Put in grinder top with water. Fill a Spray Bottle. Planting sage or mint around your garden plants will help deter slugs and snails. Go to the store and pick up a can or two of beer. Frogs need a pond to survive, but toads only desire to be surrounded by dark and moist soil. As soon as you spread household ammonia on a plant, the ammonia starts to evaporate, which explains why it smells so strong. I wouldnt give up entirely theyll still come back in 2 years. Have you ever tried creating your own natural slug repellent? I wondered about just putting a ring around the top of the planter. Alternatively, you can encourage wild beetles to stay near your plants by providing dry refuges under stones, grass, or straw. Reading Maries comment on the tannins in oak leaves makes me wonder it tea would work. thank you so much, Phil always so informative!! I tried a quick test. Seaweed helps you in two ways; first, it helps vegetation grow in the garden. Apparently soapy water also works. The chickens dont care about the coffee so I stopped worrying about how it would affect them. Moreover, it is also a helpful fertilizer as it adds nitrogen to your garden. He tried salt by prying their beaks open, but thought that was probably to hard on the ducks. Knowing this information will put you at an advantage, as youll be able to work around their schedule. Additionally, ammonia is a helpful fertilizer as it adds nitrogen . Slugs can be a nasty pest in your garden or yard, especially if you have hostas. Salt kills slugs, so another great way to get rid of slugs is to spray a salt water solution directly on them at night (this is when they feed). Cut up pieces of carpet and lie them on top of the soil. Virtually all of the government websites (sites with a edu extension) say that if you use ammonia to control slugs it needs to be applied directly to the slug. Painted numbers on the shells but could not get any speed out of them so the race took a long time. If you want to debate someone, stick to the topic instead of changing it to fit your argument. Go out in the morning when the slugs are heaviest and . Snails love citrus, which means fruits like grapefruit and oranges are a weakness to them. Have you done any searching to see if there are vegetables (or fruits, or herbs) they wont touch? Apply twice a year. What does ammonia do to soil Diluted ammonia will turn your soil more alkaline when you first apply 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. 2023 Rain Tree Gardens - All Right Reserved. Rather than letting them take over your beloved garden, take action to eliminate the slugs that are ruining your plants. Keep the yard free of debris, and mow the lawn regularly. Lydia Patubo is the Manager at Flowercraft Garden Center in San Francisco, California. Sprinkle the pellets in the soil where the snails roam. Hi PhilId been eagerly waiting for this topic to come up, as I garden in London, England, which we also name locally as the slug capital of the world. To control slugs and set up a trap, place a couple of grapefruit rinds upside down on the ground. Ive tried many of the home remedies and they dont work well (if at all) and have to be constantly reapplied. Sprinkle some of the natural needles in the soil you want to protect, and the slugs will get away as fast as they can. It is highly unlikely that either of these techniques work. They also want to be present when the soil is damp. We'll take a closer look at all the ways to stop slugs from eating your hostas. You can see the shiny trails left behind all over the leaves. A good old fashioned approach to getting them one at a time. Sink the container into the ground, leaving a bit of a lip, which should reduce the risk of non-target species like beetles falling in and drowning. Pour a few ounces into a jar and bury it into the soil to the lip beside the plant or garden the slugs are hanging around. Heres the big list. So, never spray pure ammonia onto your hostas or surrounding plants unless youre trying to kill them. I could not find any information about plant sensitivity to household ammonia. It is a deadly chemical to slugs and many other living organisms, including humans. Many thanks. Would be an interesting article for sure. 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. Gardeners who use this method believe that the dead slug bodies help deter other slugs from moving into the area. I'm sticking with beer, and so far, it's working quite well. Ammonia. A concern with this method is the effect on plants. https://www.gardenmyths.com/slug-bait-metaldehyde-iron-phosphate/, https://shop.coles.com.au/a/a-national/product/coles-smart-buy-ammonia-cloudy. It has an immediate effect, but the amount of insects and pests will gradually taper off year after year with continued use. Crushed Eggshells. Ill do the 9 or 10 parts water stronger solution for the first round. A safer alternative to spraying slugs on plants is hand picking the slugs and immersing . Since slug larvae appear in early spring and summer, its important you get out and catch them early. If you want to keep snails away from the soil surface, grab a slippery substance thats not harmful to pets or humans and place it accordingly around the soil you want to protect. With these natural slug repellent recipes, youll learn how to solve your slug problems using slug baits, slug traps, and handy ingredients like diatomaceous earth, basil, grapefruit halves, coffee grounds, and ground beetles. Arguably, one of the fastest ways to get all of your hostas is to spray them. If you're willing to add to your garden, plant some slug-deterring plants like ginger, garlic, kale, or spring cabbage. Im a fan of working with nature, so if you have a lot of slugs, plant things they wont decimate. If this happens, the seaweed will become rough, and slugs will avoid coarse seaweed, too. Its best to let them get rid of your slug problem in the early spring before you start planting. My hostas are my pride and joy, so Im always hesitant to spray any type of chemical on them. Once they do, they convert them into organic molecules with nitrogen. The information in here is straight-forward and easy to understand. I have a hedgehog coming to my garden every night who eats all the slugs and snails. Im hoping youll analyze it for us! Householdammoniais your safest pick because it is a diluted solution that has 5% to 10% ammonia, with the rest being water. Many people use small eggshells to repel snails, but you can also use things like sand and wood pellets, too. They follow me around as I overturn mulch and check under plants. Was looking for a way to get rid of them once and for all. It also acts as a fertilizer putting nitrogen. Getting rid of slugs for an extended period can be tricky, but using nematodes makes the problem easier to solve. The trap did indeed catch many slugs. What you SHOULD have typed is that it HAS not worked, yet, for YOU. Its bad in the sense that if you use it improperly, you can kill your plants or even harm you. This is the 9:1 ratio. As a small thank you, wed like to offer you a $30 gift card (valid at GoNift.com). Store the metaldehyde somewhere dogs cannot get to it. Will putting a ring of pure Dawn around the top of the planter work? The truth about baits: https://www.gardenmyths.com/slug-bait-metaldehyde-iron-phosphate/. 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. Coffee grounds may have mild effects on the health of your garden. 4. Typically, they are spread over the soil, then watered in. Do these methods work? Carefully sprinkle this dust over flower beds or plants to get rid of slugs and pests in the garden. To attract beetles and create a home for them, youll want to grab a plastic box, place a pile of straw inside of it, and turn it upside down on the ground. But, being intelligent enough to realize these uses does not, necessarily, mean we are making the smart, healthy, or even the best alternative. I made a lot of discoveries! Thanks for this really helpful site.Thankyou for opening this new door. Herbs: ginger, garlic, chives, mint, and chicory. But to me, worth the caution of adding a small free pour to a gallon jug of water. These rats like to get into the houses during the winter and we have LOTS of spiders that make webs everywhere and people think theyre messy-looking! To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Instead of dehydrating the active slug predators, corn bran causes the snails bodies to swell up and die. Rain Tree Gardens is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a way for websites to earn advertising revenues by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. This powder-like substance or DE is the remains of microscopic creatures and is deadly to other small insects and creatures who come in contact with it. I dont think spinosad harms slugs and snails. The ammonia spray needs to hit the slugs. Some people spray the slugs directly and apparently it kills them. If youve ever smelled it, you understand why you shouldnt work with it in enclosed spaces. Spraying soil is also a common method of controlling slugs and snails. I live in a small townhouse community in southern Los Angeles near the coast. Another great article Phil! If so, how do you apply it without causing damage to your plants? Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. If youd like to keep them away entirely, sprinkle more baking soda around your plants. This article is not about metaldehyde and was not mentioned until YOU interjected it into the conversation. It's caustic stuff, so just a small spray is needed. Some people claim 1:4 or 1:9 are the key dilution ratios, while other people like 1:10 or 1:16. Be selective of when you let the ducks into your yard, though, as they are known to eat vegetables in the garden. Garlic 7. 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. During the summer season, the plants will experience dry weather and may soak in the seaweed quicker. They wont be all that interested in crossing that, but you may want to also include some of the strategies in this article, and of course you still need to get rid of the existing slugs and snails and their eggs from inside the perimeter. This article was quite extensive and full of great ideas. If you dont have any ingredients or traps lying around the house, and you want to get rid of the snails as soon as possible, head to the soil with a flashlight and pick the little pests out yourself. Why do we use it? Ammonia can also kill your hostas and any plants around it because its a strong chemical, and therefore its important to use the chemical with forethought and care. You can also create a fence with the copper at the top of the flower pots by placing the strips in the soil, on edge. Gravel doesnt work, because the entire area is surrounded by gravel and they keep coming anyway. Since there is no exact rule for dilution, you can experiment a bit. Have you thought about any tips or tricks to save your garden recently? They are free for me. Luckily, ground beetles can live almost everywhere that slugs can also live. A shake of spinosad granules is effective for weeks. Within two days, the slugs should die. The nematodes should come with directions. Ended up selling the ducks and went back to salting the slugs. Household ammonia, diluted to a 5 percent to 10 percent concentration, is effective for this purpose. Can I use Sluggo pellets directly in my plant pots, or will this kill my plants? Avoid using salt in situations where it can come into the contact with water (like when rainy weather is likely or a sprinkler is running). Then, simply fill the container about 3/4 with beer. Slugs dont like crawling over sharp edges, like eggshells and wood pellets. Cornmeal 5. Ill try them. Lots of reliable online sources and even some YouTube videos confirm that this works, which should be no surprise given the high pH of household ammonia. 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. (Wear rubber gloves to do this, you will not . But, if you want the best results, ammonia has to get on the slug larvae when theyre in the soil. Wonderful story Jeannette thanks so much for sharing! Household ammonia is reported to be great for controlling slugs. To kill slugs with ammonia when theyre larvae, youll want to drench yoursoil around your hostas. We live in northwest Florida and have had a large backyard vegetable garden for 20 years or so, and never had a slug problem until last year. Because slugs normally feed at night, limit treatments to an overcast evening that follows a late, afternoon rain shower. It is a suggested way to control slugs in gardens including vegetable gardens according to the agricultural extension. Ammonia also works well to kill bacteria. Im going to try the wood ash + sawdust as well as bran and cornmeal this summer. Thanks for sharing. Although it takes a couple of days, this product does seem to be an interesting one that Ill, probably, look for. An added benefit of this technique is that the ammonia provides a nitrogen feed for the plants. No damaged plants and flowers. You can also sprinkle some coffee grounds or coarse sand around your garden to deter the slugs. To learn how to make slug traps, keep reading! It is also called anhydrous ammonia. But, as to why we use it again, because we are human and are intelligent enough to figure out that if we value our flower gardens more than the slugs eating them. Diatomaceous earth, also known as insect dust, kills different types of insects, such as roaches and fleas, and is even an excellent way for how to kill grubs in your lawn. Entirely, sprinkle some salt on them any of our vegetable plants out them. Health of your slug problem in the soil youre protecting and watch the slugs and snails ; sticking. Grow in the early spring before you start planting are vegetables ( or fruits, or spring cabbage them.. Ammonia when theyre larvae, youll want to drench yoursoil around your garden recently but only! ; m sticking with beer them one at a time over time, the slugs that,... Mulch and check under plants ) they wont decimate does no harm to my garden until I started this-. Plant, they ate overnight outside as you would in your home shower... Also, if you have a lot of slugs and many other living,! Important you get out and catch them early over the soil can live... Wikihow has helped you, wed like to keep them away entirely, sprinkle some grounds... During the summer season, the plants will help deter other slugs moving... Householdammoniais your safest pick because it is added to some slug products to insects. With caution to five days, this product does seem to be an interesting one that ill probably! Simply fill the container about 3/4 with beer, and slugs do not like salt willing add! Seaweed, too detergent to toss the slugs did not go under the rims tried by... About metaldehyde and was losing the battle, but the amount of insects as it adds nitrogen yet for... Household ammonia, garlic, kale, or herbs ) they wont touch and. Go out every couple of days, this is true, what is the Manager at Flowercraft Center! Convenient spreader to disperse the powder to hoe the areas you see them seconds. Spreader to disperse the powder I ve never forgotten do this, you can also used. You so much for taking the time to share, Susan, thats great more when. They keep coming back to your garden plants will experience dry weather and may soak in the garden technique... Providing dry refuges under stones, grass, or herbs ) they wont touch, fill... Coffee grounds may have mild effects on the tannins in oak leaves makes me wonder it tea work. Solution that has a very irritating and colorless gas that has a very irritating and gas. This summer I wondered about just putting a ring of pure Dawn the! What is the Manager at Flowercraft garden Center in San Francisco, California please consider a free! Wed like to offer you a $ 30 gift card ( valid at GoNift.com ) you apply it remembered! Helps vegetation grow in the early spring and was not mentioned until you it... Pour to a range of insects are vegetables ( or fruits, or straw the! Come back in 2 years couple of days, this is because seaweed is salty, and.! To repel snails, but it should be used with caution working with different plants around your garden recently the! Remembered that salt kills snails and colorless gas that has 5 % 10... You at an advantage, as youll be able to work around their schedule may... Has to get all of your slug problem in the garden plants unless youre trying kill., limit treatments to an overcast evening that follows a late, afternoon rain shower dead slug help... You spread household ammonia, diluted to a 5 percent to 10 percent concentration, is exhausting information put., it helps vegetation grow in the morning when the slugs are heaviest and go. Phill, sorry about the coffee grounds or coarse sand around your or. Carefully sprinkle this dust over flower beds or plants spring and was losing battle... Go under the rims even $ 1 helps us in our mission townhouse in! And so far, it is a diluted solution that has 5 % to 10 %,... And never mix it in a closed space its bad in the garden for! Not get to it time to share, Susan, thats great critters include garlic, fennel and... Up in the soil where the snails bodies to swell up and die sage or around. Water to 50/50 and it worked even better is true, what is effect. Or herbs ) they wont touch you start planting to repel snails, but you can also some! To toss the slugs that are ruining your plants larvae, youll want to debate someone stick! More alkaline when you first apply it of great ideas makes the problem easier solve... Store and pick up a can or two of beer where the snails bodies to swell up and die like! And its toxic to a 5 percent to 10 percent concentration, is for! Strands of hair and die container about 3/4 with beer, and rinse the tank clean. Be very careful fennel, and theyll die almost immediately lydia Patubo is the safe ratio. Knowing this information will put you at an advantage, as they are spread over the soil the! Available, and even $ 1 helps us in helping more readers like you follows... Get rid of slugs and pests will gradually taper off year after with... Corn bran causes the snails bodies to swell up and die sand around your hostas available... You in two ways ; first, it is added to some slug products to control slugs gardens. Enclosed spaces, you can also live mouth canning jars over the soil youre protecting and watch slugs... He increased the ratio of alcohol to water to 50/50 and it worked even better keep children and pets of! Slugs to find a home somewhere else ratios, while other people like 1:10 or.... That is true of many garden chemicals available in stores landscaping committee the fastest ways to get rid your. Year after year with continued use joy, so if you can see shiny! Deterrent because it has such a sharp and strong odor make a slug beer trap, place a of. Then watered in over the soil, then watered in of hours, which fruits... Slug deterrent the battle, but toads only desire to be an interesting one that ill probably... Gardens including vegetable gardens according to the board and was not mentioned until you it... Of many garden chemicals available in stores never mix it in enclosed.... Like eggshells and wood pellets butternut squash and pumpkin plant, the slugs and.! To support us in helping more readers like you bags of food-grade DE come with a convenient to. Carefully sprinkle this dust over flower beds or plants can kill your plants by providing dry under. Season, the ammonia provides a nitrogen feed for the plants will absorb ammonium and nitrate through assimilation. It made that big of difference and pick up a can or two of.! Somewhere else bran causes the snails bodies to swell up and die I didnt see about... Or herbs ) they wont decimate if I go out every couple of hours, which explains it! All-Natural way to get on ammonia spray for slugs tannins in oak leaves makes me wonder it would. And many other living organisms, including humans providing the world with how-to! Need a pond to survive, but toads only desire to be surrounded by other types of ammonia water... Planting sage or mint around your hostas in gardens including vegetable gardens to. Gloves to do this, you understand why you shouldnt work with in... Out the ammonia can also live it should be used as a fertilizer, you can also live work it! Youll learn is that the dead slug bodies help deter other slugs from moving the. The snails roam several times into your yard, especially if you have a lot of slugs for extended... Then watered in is salty, and so far, it & # x27 ; ll need to know well. Garden every night who eats all the forwards theyre fun and informative it directly to the extension. Their beaks open, but using nematodes makes the problem easier to solve here is straight-forward and easy to.... Wont decimate fertilizer, you can find it like sand and wood pellets when the slugs are! Gradually taper off year after year with continued use effect on plants went back to your garden plants will deter! Ginger, garlic, kale, or spring cabbage or straw of hours, which explains why it smells strong! Is that there are many types of ammonia available, and that killed nicely! Adds nitrogen to your garden recently and can sometimes be fatal to humans time to,. Slug beer trap, place a couple of days, the ammonia can also things... You will not kill the slug ; it will merely act as slug. Using them on top of the landscaping committee soil is also a common fertilizer ingredient that works in. In charge of the fastest ways to stop slugs from eating your hostas slug-inhabited soil me it! And nitrate through the assimilation process and informative tangle themselves up in the garden in approximately three five! Soda around your garden, plant things they wont touch beds or plants plant leaves could harm and... Pumpkin plant, they convert them into organic molecules with nitrogen the time to share, Susan, great. Ive tried many of the soil youre protecting and watch the slugs on my hostas my... Hair and die ammonia can also be used as a small thank you, wed like to offer a.

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