Slugs eat the leaves of your plants, so staying on top of slug prevention is crucial to keeping your patio plants alive. Slugs love to eat tender young plants and can take them out in just a few hours. If you have seen slugs around your patio, read on for how to get rid of them:
Slugs can be a real pain. A common problem in the garden is that they’ll eat everything and anything in their way. If you’ve got slugs on your patio, how do you get rid of them?
Fortunately, getting rid of slugs and keeping them at bay is quite simple. There are loads of mild-tasting options available for controlling these pests, which can help you save your plants, shrubs, and even trees from being eaten right down to the root.
What attracts slugs to my patio
Slugs are attracted to your patio because of the food and moisture they can detect through their sensitive noses. Slugs like to eat anything; they are omnivorous, so a beautiful, green lawn will attract them; also, those leftovers will attract them, including your pets’ food.
But when it comes down to it, they’re all about the plants. They eat flowers and leaves and even stems of grasses and other plants, and they like the taste of plants best when they’re fresh.
Also, they will often find their way to a patio if it’s been neglected and left to grow weeds, which can make the patio look more attractive to slugs.
Some reasons slugs will likely hang out on your patio include:
- They like the warmth of the sun
- They like the shade provided by trees or shrubs
- They’re looking for a place to lay their eggs
When it’s damp outside, they will crawl around looking for a place that is comfortable for them, dark and damp. Also, slugs are on your patio because they are looking for a place to stay dry while eating all the leaves they want.
If you have a patio covered in grass or other plants with food remnants, slugs will be attracted to your patio. They may even try to burrow under if they can, which can cause significant damage if left unchecked.
How to get rid of slugs on the patio
Slugs are a common problem in the summer, and they can be just as annoying to your patio as to your plants. But don’t worry; there are some simple solutions that you can use to get rid of them once and for all.
Practice good hygiene
If you want to get rid of slugs on your patio, it’s important to practice good hygiene. Slugs are attracted to damp soil and can’t resist the smell of wet dog or cat food. Try keeping your garbage in sealed bags, so the slugs don’t have a place to hide.
Also, ensure your compost pile is clean and tidy so the slugs won’t have an opportunity to grow into a problem. So one of the best ways to keep them away is by keeping a clean garden and removing any trash that might attract them. Keeping your patio clean will keep mosquitoes and other pesky insects away.
Use slug pellets
These pellets are designed to kill slugs without harming yourself, your pets, or your plants. There are different brands available in pest and online stores nationwide.
Slug pellets are made from a compound designed to kill slugs and snails by dehydrating them. They are usually sold in a granular form, which can be sprinkled directly on the slug or snail.
These pellets contain a mixture of insecticide and pyrethrin, which will kill slugs on contact. They’re not harmful to humans or pets, so you don’t have to worry about their side effects.
Just sprinkle them around where you see slugs, wait a few days, then sweep them up with a broom. Another goo alternative is to use Sluggo, this is a contact poison proven to be effective against slugs and snails.
Lay out slug traps
Slug traps are a great way to keep and get rid of slugs on your patio. The traps are made from plastic; the bait is usually beer or a mixture of yeast, sugar, and pepper.
The first step is to lay out some traps. Depending on your patio’s size and how many slugs you want to catch, you’ll need four or five of them. To make sure they’re effective, don’t put them in places where there are other plants or things that could confuse them about what’s going on in their environment.
You can place these traps anywhere on your patio where slugs might hide, even under rocks or other hard surfaces. You can also lay them around any plants that you think might be attracting slugs, but be careful not to let them touch each other, so they don’t become confused. Place one at each corner of your patio so you can see if any slugs are moving around between them.
Handpick slugs
This is the easiest way to get rid of slugs on your patio. It only takes a few minutes and requires no special tools. Pick up slugs you find in your patio or yard with your hand and drown them in vinegar or salt solution.
Handpick them one by one, wearing gloves. Slugs are sensitive to touch, so don’t squash them. If you have to use your hands to pick them up, ensure you wear gloves so you don’t get slime. Also, you can follow their slim to know where they are hiding on your patio.
Vinegar slug control
Vinegar is another obvious solution for getting rid of slugs. It is a great way to deal with this problem without having to resort to dangerous chemicals or hiring an exterminator. You can mix vinegar with water and apply it to the area where slugs are actively feeding.
- Mix one part vinegar to two parts water in a spray bottle and shake to mix. Use this solution to soak the slug’s home or slime trail.
- Spray the solution on the affected area every day until the slugs are gone or until your yard is free from slugs.
If you’re still seeing slugs after three days, repeat steps 1 and 2 for another two days. Then give it one more day of spray treatment before calling it quits.
Create a barrier
Slugs and snails love to climb, so to keep them away from your patio, you can use an organic, nontoxic solution that will repel slugs. Try using plants with thorns, such as rosemary or thyme, or decorative rocks or bricks decorated with small holes drilled in them. You can also use copper tape or aluminum foil to seal cracks and holes around the patio.
Cut off their food source.
Get rid of food, water, and shelter; Slugs like hiding out in damp, dark places, like the corners of your patio or under mulch. You can eliminate them by removing their hiding places, which will also help stop any future infestations.
They love moist soil so much that they’ll stay put even if there’s nothing to eat in the area. So if you want to get rid of slugs on your patio without killing them, take care of this first.
Dig up all the mulch around your patio and replace it with gravel. Then, add a topsoil layer and cover it with more gravel. This will make your patio less attractive to slugs.
Pour salt around areas prone to slugs.
One of the best and easiest ways to get rid of slugs on your patio is with salt. Salt will kill slugs on contact and will prevent them from coming back. The easiest way to do this is to sprinkle some salt around your yard where you see slugs.
Be sure to pour a little bit of water on top of the salt so that it stays moist. You can also pour salt around the perimeter of your patio, and the salt will prevent the slugs from coming in.
Attracting Natural Predators
There are many ways to get rid of slugs on your patio, and one of them is to attract natural predators. There are several species of birds that eat slugs, including the pigeon, starling, and sparrow. You can also attract brown rats, voles, and hedgehogs to eat the slugs.
You can purchase bird feeders to attract these animals or create your own by filling a bird bath with bird seed and water. Birds will eat the slugs directly from the bird bath, so they won’t have to come near the patio.
Use diatomaceous earth
Diatomaceous earth is a substance made up of tiny fossilized remains of algae. It contains the microscopic shells of mollusks, called diatoms, which contain silica and can be used to remove slugs from your patio.
Diatomaceous earth is available in many stores and online, but it’s often sold as a pesticide or gardening product. Sprinkle this dust on slugs or around the edge of your patio or lawn to prevent them from crossing into your yard.
Diatomaceous earth is harmless for humans and pets. It will not harm plants or animals if used on them and does not leave any residue when it dries out. Because of this, diatomaceous earth can be used anywhere without worry.
Plant herbs that repel slugs
If you want to get rid of slugs on your patio, the easiest way is to plant herbs that repel them. Slugs are very sensitive to the smell of mint, so if you plant mint around your patio, they will avoid it. They also hate garlic, so plant garlic and onion plants around your patio to keep the little pests away.
You can also plant basil, cilantro, and rosemary in pots or planters around your garden. These plants will act as a barrier between the slug and other plants in your yard. This will help keep the slugs from coming back once they leave.
Use copper tape
Copper tape is a great way to keep slugs away because it’s toxic to slugs but not harmful to humans or pets when used properly. Place a thin layer of copper tape on your patio or in any area where you see slugs. Leave the tape there for at least 2 weeks, then remove it and clean up any debris that may have been left behind.
Copper tape is inexpensive, easy to apply, and long-lasting. It’s also reusable and can be used on several surfaces, including containers, borders, and outdoor areas such as patios or gardens.
Copper tape effectively keeps slugs out of containers, borders, and other areas where they can cause damage. You can also use copper tape around windows or doorways.
How to prevent slugs from coming to the patio
If you love your patio, it’s only natural to want to protect it from the kinds of pests that might threaten your outdoor space. Slugs are a common example of such a pest. While they can be annoying, they don’t usually pose any serious threat to your patio furniture but to plants.
However, if you have slugs coming onto your patio regularly and are looking for ways to prevent them from doing so again, here are some tips:
- Clean up outside debris regularly, including leaves and plant matter. This will help keep the slug population down in general.
- Do not allow pet food or other food sources outside; this encourages the growth of slugs in your yard as well as their presence on your patio.
- Use a barrier like a small rock wall or raised flower bed around the patio’s edge where you don’t want to see slugs or their damage (such as holes).
- If you use chemicals on your lawn regularly, ensure that you rinse off all pesticides before using them on your patio so as not to harm plants or other outdoor life forms.
- Add a layer of mulch around the plants. Slugs don’t like being in areas where they can’t see their prey—and mulch is an excellent barrier for them.
- Add a fence around your patio area to keep the slugs out of it entirely. This can be as simple as some chicken wire or as elaborate as an entire garden structure (ensure it’s securely anchored in place).
- Use a light spray of horticultural oil on plants where slugs tend to hide (like around rocks).
Conslusion
In conclusion, getting rid of slugs on your patio requires a combination of preventative measures and targeted solutions. Regularly removing debris and keeping your deck and patio clean and dry can discourage slugs from making a home on your patio.
Additionally, using slug-repelling plants and products such as copper strips or slug bait can help keep these pests at bay. It’s important to remember to use these methods responsibly and follow the manufacturer’s instructions to ensure the safety of both humans and pets.
With a bit of patience and persistence, you can successfully rid your patio of pesky slugs and enjoy a beautifully slug-free space.
