Many gardeners who have community garden plots or home gardens on the ground floor would have encountered slugs and snails gnawing at their plants, or worse, denuding them. The presence of these gastropods is a recurring event in my garden and I’ve looked at different ways on how to get rid of slugs and snails from my property in Singapore. The snails I usually find are the African Land Snail, Luminescent Land Snail, Humphrey’s Land Snail and Allopeas Snail but we do have a diverse number of snails in Singapore.
My former flock of chickens would eat the smaller snails and slugs but my current resident flock turn their beaks up at them. So I’ve had to explore other ways of dealing with them that don’t involve slug or snail pellets, something which I’m not terribly fond of because I don’t like the use of poisons in my garden or the likelihood of making my chickens or any wildlife sick.
Aside from pellets, other tactics that gardeners swear by include copper tape, beer traps/pub, wool pellets, diatomaceous earth, coffee grounds, brambles, and using a plank as a lure, where they can be found and dealt with later. This is a good time to mention that crushed egg shells are not as effective as once thought, because gardeners have found that snails and slugs just crawl over it.
There are however, non-chemical, humane strategies that you can consider, either through preventing or by baiting/trapping, and then relocating. They may come across as the enemy but they are ecologically beneficial. Their diet consists of fungi and rotting leaves and other vegetation, and as detritivores and some say decomposers, they help in breaking down plant waste, cycling nutrients back to the soil. While they are not particularly welcome to our vegetable garden especially, we don’t need to use a take no prisoners approach.
African daisies (Osteospermum species) are prized for their bright, vibrant blooms that can instantly cheer up any garden. However, these showy flowers often attract slimy, pesky slugs that can quickly damage and defoliate the plants. Getting rid of these annoying pests in an eco-friendly manner can be challenging.
In this comprehensive guide, we will explore various natural, organic techniques to tackle slugs on African daisies and restore the health and beauty of these flowers without harming the environment.
Understanding Slugs and Their Behavior
Before implementing control methods, it’s important to understand what attracts slugs to African daisies in the first place.
Slugs are soft-bodied gastropods that thrive in damp, shaded habitats. They are most active at night or on cloudy, rainy days when humidity levels peak. These pests use a rasping, tongue-like organ called a radula to scrape and feed on plant tissue, leaving behind tell-tale slime trails.
The juicy leaves and showy blooms of African daisies provide an irresistible food source for slugs. Furthermore thick mulch and dense foliage around daisies create the cool humid environment that slugs prefer.
Knowing the feeding habits and habitat preferences of slugs will help you better protect your African daisies.
Natural Slug Deterrents
Here are some safe, eco-friendly ways to repel slugs from your African daisies:
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Caffeinated mulch: Spread used coffee grounds around plants. Caffeine is toxic to slugs. The coarse texture also deters them.
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Prickly companions: Plant slug-repellent herbs like chives, mint or thyme nearby. Their strong scent puts off slugs.
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Sharp eggshells: Scatter crushed eggshells around daisies. The rough, jagged edges deter slugs.
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Copper barriers: Slugs dislike copper’s mild electrical charge. Use copper tape around pots or garden beds.
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Diatomaceous earth: Dust this natural powder made from fossilized algae on soil. It dehydrates and damages slugs.
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Sand pits: Circular moats of dry sand or ashes block slugs. Renew after rain to keep effective.
Trapping Techniques
Trapping is an effective organic way to capture and eliminate slugs. Popular trapping methods include:
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Beer traps: Sink cups of beer (1-2 inches deep) near plants. Slugs are drawn to the yeasty smell but drown.
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Milk traps: Shallow saucers of milk also lure and drown slugs. Milk is less appealing to pets.
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Yeast traps: A mixture of 1 part yeast, 3 parts flour and 10 parts water also attracts slugs.
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Apple traps: Slices of apple laid on soil overnight will harbor slugs by morning. Collect and discard apple with slugs.
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Board traps: Placing damp wooden boards or overturned pots near plants provides cool, damp places for slugs to aggregate. Lift and remove slugs daily.
Smart Watering Practices
Excess moisture attracts and breeds slugs. To make your garden less slug-friendly:
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Water early in the day so plants dry out by evening.
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Use drip irrigation or soaker hoses instead of sprinklers.
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Improve drainage if soil remains soggy after rain.
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Allow soil to partially dry out between waterings.
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Mulch properly by leaving space around plant stems and crowns.
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Remove standing water and debris that retain moisture.
Encouraging Natural Predators
Promoting beneficial predators is a chemical-free way to control slug populations.
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Attract insect predators like ground beetles, rove beetles and fireflies.
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Provide habitat for slug-eating snakes, frogs, toads and lizards.
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Protect slug-hunting birds like ducks, chickens, and songbirds.
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Avoid pesticides that kill both slugs and their predators.
Handpicking for Quick Results
For quick removal, handpick slugs from African daisies daily. Take a flashlight and pick slugs off flowers, leaves and soil, especially on cool, humid nights when slugs are lively. Drop them in soapy water to kill. Wear gloves if handling slugs.
Prevention Is Better than Cure
Stop slugs before they become a problem by:
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Removing sheltering debris like weeds, dead leaves and garden litter.
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Filling in potential hiding spots like soil cracks, gaps in pavers, etc.
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Keeping surrounding vegetation trimmed to reduce damp, shady spots.
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Checking potted plants closely. Slugs can hide in drainage holes.
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Rotating trap location to cover all possible slug hideouts and entry points.
When to Use Slug Bait
Iron phosphate slug baits are a last resort if all else fails. Look for certified organic, pet-safe products. Follow label directions and use sparingly. Reapply after heavy rain. Take care to keep baits away from edibles and children.
Be Vigilant
Preventing slugs is more effective than removing them after they have already damaged plants. Examine African daisies daily for signs of slug or snail activity. Take prompt action at first sightings before pests multiply.
With these organic, eco-friendly tactics, you can protect your African daisies from ugly slug damage. Combining multiple methods and consistent monitoring is key to safeguarding the floral beauty of these ornamentals.
Organic slug and snail control
While they have a terrible reputation for decimating plants and need to be kept away from our precious plants, we can take a more ecological approach. This will be better for the garden, the environment, and better for us. Here are some methods you can consider.
If you have a good amount of space in your garden or community garden and regulations permit, you can consider chickens and ducks, or building a pond to attract natural predators like frogs and toads, although a moist environment will also do for toads. In Singapore, you can adopt your chickens and ducks from Backyard Chickens Singapore and Chickenese telegram pages.
One common management method overseas is the use of parasitic nematodes, which can be mail ordered, but this is service is not yet available in Singapore. Other animals that eat slugs and snails include shrews and squirrels. Shrews are quite useful to have around, while not everyone appreciates squirrels, especially if it is an invasive species like the Finlayson’s squirrel.
To prevent slugs and snails from wreaking damage to your plants, you can start with some simple housekeeping techniques. Don’t create habitats that are conducive to them among your prized edible or ornamental plants, and use barriers and repellents.
They like moist environments, and in places with a tropical climate like Singapore, that’s not hard to find. They also like hiding spots like bricks with holes, the underside of plant pots, and underneath planks. Knowing this, we can cover brick holes with sand or small stones, occasionally check the undersides of pots. Make sure you don’t leave pots or planks lying around your vegetable patch.
Aside from this, you can also consider barriers and repellents. Knowing what snails avoid will help you protect your plants.
Are snail pellets safe for cats, dogs, birds and vegetables?
There are a couple types of snail pellets commonly found on the market. They contain Metaldehyde or Iron phosphate and many want to know if it is dangerous for cats, dogs, birds, wildlife and vegetables.
Metaldehyde pellets have existed for a long time and are still easily available in Singapore nurseries. It is highly toxic to animals, not advisable for use around edible plants and it has been reported that once it leaches into waterways, it is difficult to fully remove chemical residues. Overall this is harmful to pets, wildlife and vegetables and not a good idea in my opinion.
Iron phosphate pellets are said to be a safer option compared to Metaldehyde, and safer for cats, dogs, birds and other wildlife, but it can still kill earthworms. Also, it is important to note that dogs get sick after consuming lots of iron. Also, you are exposing yourself to it if it gets on your skin or if you accidentally breathe it in.
But an even safer alternative is not to use these snail pellets altogether. There has been talk about how a caffeine solution is effective but unfortunately this can also kill beneficial insects which your plants need. While it is natural and of organic origin, it is hostile to the ecosystem and I would not recommend it.
How to Stop Slugs Eating Your Plants (100% Organic)
FAQ
What is the best homemade slug repellent?
Can plants recover from slug damage?
What repels slugs?
Are slugs eating your daisy flowers?
If your daisy flowers have been the target of unwanted guests, there are a few pests in particular that you should be aware of. Snails and slugs are the most common culprits when it comes to eating daisies. These slimy creatures love to feed on the soft petals and young buds of daisies, and can quickly decimate a flowerbed if left unchecked.
How do you keep slugs away from plants?
Use crushed eggshells, nutshells, sharp sand, grit, pine needles or thorny cuttings to create protective barriers. Use them to make a circle around a plant that has been affected by munching. Slugs find the gritty edges uncomfortable against their soft flesh. You can use straw as a barrier for slugs in a garden 4.
Are slugs bad for plants?
Slugs cause serious damage to vegetable plants, annuals and perennial flowers. In the blink of an eye, they can destroy an entire crop of lettuce, or chew hole after hole in cucumber plants, tomato plants and more. If that wasn’t bad enough, they can decimate the foliage of perennials beyond repair.
Do slugs eat plants?
Experts at the Royal Horticultural Society explain, ‘Slugs are widespread animals which can cause problems in the garden, eating holes in leaves, stems, flowers, tubers and bulbs.’ They can cause damage throughout the year on a wide range of plants, but seedlings and new growth on herbaceous plants in spring are most at risk.