Cultural control of slugs

There are a number of ways to control slug populations in the garden.

- Allow small, vulnerable seedlings more time to grow before planting out in the garden.

- In winter, rake over the soil and remove dead leaves to expose slug eggs to hungry birds.

-  Use slug traps around vulnerable plants. Scooped-out citrus rinds or jars filled with beer sunk into the soil are effective. Check and empty these regularly, preferably every morning.

- Create or purchase barriers. Slugs dislike travelling over rough or sharply-textures mulches. Copper barriers like cooper tape may deter slugs from climbing into pots or up stems. 

- On mild, damp evenings go out with a torch and hand-pick slugs into a container.