Do Slugs Eat Plants? How To Get Rid Of Them And Snails

Thinking of starting a vegetable garden but you have slugs around? You may be asking yourself, do slugs eat plants?

The simple answer is, yes, slugs eat plants. They are known to feed on a wide variety of living plant material, which can include leaves, flowers, fruits, and even the bark of some younger plants.

Slugs are considered pests in gardens and agricultural fields because they can cause significant damage to seedlings, plants, and crops. They are especially fond of tender, succulent growth, making them a nuisance for gardeners and farmers.

To mitigate slug damage, people employ various methods, including beer traps, use barriers, chemical slug and snail baits, organic deterrents like diatomaceous earth, and natural predators like birds and beneficial insects and beetles.

When you grow your own food you soon realize that controlling pests is part of gardening. While there are lots of garden pests out there we are going to talk about how to naturally control slugs and snails in this post.

What Damage Do Slugs Cause In A Garden?

Slugs are common garden pests that can cause significant damage to a wide variety of plants, both ornamental and edible. Their feeding activity can be particularly detrimental to young seedlings and tender plant parts. Here are the main types of damage slugs can cause in a garden:

Eating Leaves and Flowers: Slugs have a preference for the tender, succulent parts of plants. They can eat holes in leaves, flowers, and even soft stems. This not only affects the plant’s appearance but the plant damage can also reduce its ability to photosynthesize and grow.
Damaging Fruits and Vegetables: Slugs can also feed on the fruits and vegetables themselves, especially those that are close to the ground, such as strawberries, lettuce, and cabbage. Their feeding can leave unsightly marks and holes, making the produce less appealing and sometimes inedible.
Seedlings: Young plants and tender seedlings are particularly vulnerable to slug damage. Slugs may eat the stem base of young seedlings, which can kill the plant or severely stunt its growth.
Transmitting Diseases: While feeding, slugs can transmit plant pathogens, including bacteria, viruses, and fungi, from one plant to another. This can lead to the spread of diseases throughout the garden, affecting plant health and productivity.
Creating Unsightly Slime Trails: Slugs leave behind slimy trails of secretion as they move. This slime can coat leaves and stems and is often visible on hard surfaces like paths and patios in the morning. While not directly damaging to plants, it is unsightly and can contribute to a messy garden appearance.

Management of slug populations in the garden typically involves a combination of strategies, including cultural practices like removing debris they use as hiding places and excess moisture, physical barriers or slug traps, and, when necessary, chemical controls or natural predators.

Implementing these strategies effectively can help minimize the damage caused by slugs and protect the health and beauty of the garden.

What Zones Are Most Prone To Have Slugs?

Slugs can be found in many parts of the world, thriving particularly in regions that offer their preferred moist and cool conditions.

In terms of the USDA Hardiness Zones, which are commonly used in the United States to help gardeners determine which plants are most likely to thrive at a location.

Slugs are not strictly limited to specific zones because their presence is more closely tied to local environmental conditions rather than temperature extremes which the zones indicate.

However, their activity and populations can be more pronounced in certain environmental conditions often found in specific zones.

Temperate Zones (Zones 6-8): These areas often have a climate that is conducive to slugs, with mild winters and moist conditions in spring and fall. The moderate temperatures and adequate rainfall create an environment where slugs can remain active for much of the year.
Maritime Climates: Regions with maritime climates, including much of the Pacific Northwest (typically Zones 7-9 in the U.S.), are particularly prone to lots of slugs. The combination of high humidity, frequent wet weather, and mild temperatures year-round in these areas creates an ideal habitat for slugs. Coastal areas in these zones can be especially affected.
Areas with High Rainfall: Any garden or region that experiences high levels of rainfall or has consistent moisture due to other factors (like irrigation or proximity to water bodies) can be prone to slugs, regardless of its USDA Zone. Slugs need moist conditions to survive, so gardens that are irrigated or have poorly drained soils in any zone can have a slug infestation.

While these zones and conditions are more prone to slug activity, it’s important to remember that slugs can be found in a wide variety of environments.

Gardens with ample ground cover, mulch, or garden debris can attract slugs even if they are located in zones with less overall moisture.

Conversely, even in the most prone zones, well-managed gardens that minimize excessive moisture and hiding places for slugs can significantly reduce their impact.

Where Are Slugs Most Common?

Slugs are most commonly found in moist, cool environments. They thrive in areas with high humidity and ample dark places, as these conditions help prevent them from drying out.

Slugs are less active during hot, dry weather and more active during cooler, moist conditions, including at night or on cloudy, wet days.

Their distribution and activity levels can vary widely depending on the climate, growing season, and specific garden conditions.

Here are some common places and conditions where slugs are most likely to be found:

Temperate Regions: Slugs are especially common in temperate climates where there is sufficient moisture and moderate temperatures year-round. These conditions are ideal for their survival and reproduction.
Gardens and Greenhouses: Gardens, especially those with dense plantings and organic mulch, provide ideal habitats for slugs due to the moisture, shelter, and food they offer. Greenhouses can also harbor slugs if the conditions inside are humid and there are plenty of plants for them to feed on.
Under Debris: Slugs often hide under garden debris such as plant matter, pots, stones, and boards during the day to avoid the sun. These areas provide the cool, moist conditions that slugs need to survive.
In Dense Vegetation: Overgrown weedy areas, dense ground covers, and unkempt edges of gardens are prime spots for slugs. Because these areas retain moisture and offer protection from the sun.
Moist Soil and Mulch: Slugs are attracted to moist soil conditions and organic mulches. While organic mulches are beneficial for soil health and moisture retention, they can also create an inviting environment for slugs.
Near Water Sources: Areas around ponds, streams, or any standing water can be more prone to slug problems due to the higher humidity and moist conditions.

While these are common places where slugs are found, it’s worth noting that they can adapt to a variety of environments.

In areas where their natural predators are scarce or in gardens that provide ample food and shelter, slug population can become particularly problematic.

Managing moisture levels, reducing hiding places, and implementing targeted control measures can help manage slug populations in these environments.

How To Naturally Control Slugs And Snails:

I know there are lots of easy chemicals out there that you can use to keep your garden safe from slugs and snails. But then you just have to worry about the chemicals being all over your produce. That is why I like to naturally control slugs and snails.

Now, this may not be a pest that you have issues within your area. Some areas are more prone to slugs and snails than others. But it is always a good idea to read up on garden pests just in case they show up in your garden.

The good news is these ideas not only help control when you have a lot of slugs but they also work for snail control as well.

Removing By Hand:

The best way to control slugs is a simple one. Simply look around and under hiding spots such as flower pots and remove them by hand and dispose of them. This will need to be done on a regular basis.

Diatomaceous Earth:

Diatomaceous earth is one of the best ways to help control slugs and snails easily. This also works on other pests in your gardens like ants, Japanese beetles, and cabbage worms.

The sharp edges are microscopic and unnoticeable to humans. You can place a line around your garden beds to help keep them away.

If treating other insects at the same time such as aphids opt to dust your plants as well. You will need to replace this often after it rains.

Eggshells:

Much like diatomaceous earth, you can use egg shells to kill snails and slugs in your garden. To do this you need to crush clean dry eggshells making them sharp and spiky.

Just don’t crush them so much that it makes powder, you need it to be sharp.

Place these around your garden beds to cut snails and slugs as they slide across them.

Trap Them:

If you have a large number of slugs or snail problems, traps may be the way to go.

Beer Trap:

A great way to trap slugs and snails is to beer-baited traps. Place beer in a can or pie tin and place it in your garden.

If you bury it, avoid placing the top flush with the soil as you could trap beetles that eat slugs. Snails will be attracted to the beer and go to sip. Slugs and snails will fall into the beer and drown. This method I have found to be the least effective.

Wood Trap:

Set a wet wood trap to gather slugs and snails from your garden overnight. Slugs and snails will actively seek out water to keep them hydrated.

Soak a wooden board and place it in an area where you actively see these pests. You can lay it on the soil surface or cover it with leaves for even better results. The next morning check your traps and discard snails and slugs that have found their way.

Using Birds:

Backyard chickens or ducks work wonders to naturally control most common garden pests including garden slugs and snails. Plus I find that the poop from the birds really helps the soil in the garden.

If you don’t want chickens and ducks, you can attract slug predators like birds to your garden. Birds love to eat slugs and snails. By attracting birds to your garden you help kill off pests in your garden and make others less likely to come to your garden.

If you have a bad slug or snail infestation placing a bird feeder near them can help solve this problem fast and maintain a slug-free garden long term.

If attracting birds to your garden does not appeal to you because they tend to eat fruits and vegetables you can welcome other predators to your garden.

To deal with slugs and snails you can order praying mantis eggs online or check your local nursery. These will hatch and eat slugs and snails in your garden.

Make Your Garden Less Appealing To Slugs And Snails:

Slugs and snails love water. If your soil or mulch is too wet you are more likely to see slugs and snails. Change how you water your garden to deep watering.

Deep watering is great for your garden because it encourages deep rooting and makes your garden less susceptible to drought. But it also comes with great pest control benefits.

When using the deep watering method your garden topsoil is dryer making it less likely to attract slugs and snails.

Plant high fragrance herbs and flowers like marigolds, lavender, basil, and mint around your garden. This will help repel unwanted pests like slugs and snails that prefer heavy green plants with a low fragrance.

Plant these on the edges of garden beds with lettuce and cabbage to help protect them.

Make areas around your garden less appealing. Allowing plenty of cover in the form of tall grass or leaves on the ground can make your garden appealing to slugs and snails.

Rake up leaves and remove debris such as twigs and logs from around your yard. Cut your grass often to keep it short and remove clippings to make finding their way into your garden difficult.

Looking for more gardening tips? Here are a few others to check out.