Slugs are the bane of gardeners’ lives, regularly topping surveys of garden pests. They munch the new growth of precious plants, demolish seedlings overnight and munch irregularly-shaped holes in leaves, stems, flowers, tubers and bulbs and potatoes, leaving their silvery slime trails behind.
Slugs are active for most of the year but are a particular problem in spring, when there’s plenty of young growth for them to eat. They are mostly active after dark, especially when it’s warm and damp. In hot, dry weather they bury themselves in the soil or hide in cool, dark places to avoid dehydrating.
There are over 40 species of slugs in the UK. Not all slugs eat live plants, however – many of the larger ones eat decaying or dead plant material and they are an important part of the composting process.
Despite your best efforts, some losses to slugs are inevitable. Accept that your garden is never going to be slug free, and find ways to work around this.
Make sure you prioritise the protection of the most vulnerable plants – all seedlings, new growth on most herbaceous plants, and all parts of especially susceptible plants such as delphiniums, hostas and dahlias. If you’re growing plants in pots, make sure there isn’t a ‘bridge’ of leaves from one plant to another, as slugs can travel from pot to pot this way.
Sow extra seeds so you have seedlings waiting in the wings to replace any that are eaten by slugs, and grow more than you need so you still have some crops left over after a slug attack. And add plenty of slug-resistant plants (see our list below) to keep damage to a minimum.
There are many options for controlling slugs. The best approach is to combine several methods, starting early in spring. Here are some ways to controlling slugs in your garden, some of them recommended in a survey of readers of BBC Gardeners’ World Magazine.
Slugs can be a major nuisance in gardens, and baobab trees are no exception. With their broad leaves and fairly dense growth, baobab trees can provide the perfect moist habitat for slugs during wet seasons. Not only do slugs damage the ornamental value of baobab trees by chewing holes in the leaves, but a severe infestation can even stunt the growth of younger trees. Getting rid of these slimy pests in an eco-friendly manner may seem daunting, but there are several effective options available.
Understanding Slugs and How They Damage Baobab Trees
Slugs are soft-bodied gastropod mollusks that glide along on a muscular “foot”, leaving behind a telltale trail of mucus They are most active in damp, shady areas and emerge at night to feed Slugs have a rasping, radula mouthpart that they use to chew and scrape foliage, flowers, stems and fruits on plants.
On baobab trees, slugs tend to hide on the underside of leaves or in leaf axils during the day. At night, they venture out to feed on the soft green leaf tissue, leaving behind irregular holes and notches in the foliage. These feeding injuries affect the tree’s ability to photosynthesize efficiently. An extensive infestation can skeletonize the leaves, deform the growth, facilitate disease entry, and stunt the development of younger trees.
Some of the common slug species that infest baobab trees include the gray garden slug leopard slug and marsh slugs. Their populations boom in damp conditions, especially when there is excess moisture from irrigation, rain or inadequate drainage around the tree.
Physical Controls to Remove Slugs from Baobab Trees
Handpicking
Going out at night with a flashlight and handpicking slugs from infested leaves is one of the most effective organic methods Drop them into a bucket of soapy water to kill the slugs and prevent reinfestation Do this daily until their populations dwindle.
Pruning
Prune away any dead or heavily infested parts of the tree to get rid of slug eggs and hiding spots. Improving air circulation by selective pruning also makes conditions less favorable for the pests.
Traps
Place shallow dishes of beer or yeast mixture partially sunken into the ground around the tree. Slugs are attracted to the fermenting smell and will crawl in and drown.
You can also use upturned grapefruit skins, orange peels, wooden planks or wet cardboard as traps. Check them daily and dispose of any slugs found.
Barriers
Use materials like crushed eggshells, diatomaceous earth, wood ash, coffee grounds, sand or sawdust to create a gritty barrier around the base of the tree. The rough texture irritates and deters slugs from crossing over.
Copper tape wrapped around the trunk can also block slug migration, as they dislike contact with copper.
Biological Controls
Introduce predators like garter snakes, frogs, ducks, or ground beetles to naturally reduce slug numbers in an eco-friendly manner.
Nematodes are microscopic worms that parasitize slugs when applied to moist soil. They provide targeted biological pest control without any risks to kids, pets or other wildlife.
Organic Sprays to Repel and Kill Slugs on Baobab Trees
Salt water
Mix 1 part salt with 5 parts water and spray it directly onto slugs and their trails to induce dehydration. Focus on undersides of leaves and areas with the worst damage. Avoid overspraying as high salt levels may burn the foliage.
Vinegar
A 5% vinegar spray will kill slugs on contact while also making the tree inhospitable for reinfestation. For safety, test spray vinegar on a few leaves first before wide scale application.
Neem oil
The bitter taste of neem oil acts as an antifeedant. Mix pure neem oil with water according to the instructions and spray onto affected parts of the tree. Repeat after rain to maintain repellent effects.
Garlic oil
Puree a few bulbs of garlic into a smooth paste. Steep overnight in mineral oil. Strain and dilute with water to make a spray that irritates and drives away slugs from baobab trees.
Chilli spray
Steep hot chili peppers in water overnight. Strain the spicy infused liquid into a spray bottle. Spritz it directly onto slugs and reapply after rain for lasting repellency.
The capsaicin compounds make baobab trees unpalatable to slugs.
Cultural Practices to Prevent Slug Infestations
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Remove leaf litter, weeds, and garden debris from under the baobab tree to eliminate damp hiding spots for slugs
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Improve drainage around the tree and avoid overwatering to keep conditions less favorable for slug activity
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Apply mulch sparingly, if at all, as excessive mulching retains moisture that slugs thrive in
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Keep the surrounding area free of tall vegetation and prune lower branches to increase sunlight penetration and air circulation
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Attract birds to the garden to feed on slugs and reduce their numbers naturally
Water in the morning
This ensures that the soil has dried out by the evening, when slugs are most active. Wet soil at night can create a slug highway between plants.
Copper rings can be effective slug deterrents – if a slug tries to cross one it receives an ‘electric shock’, forcing it back. Put rings around vulnerable plants such as hostas – bury them deep as slugs may reach the plant from underneath.
Some gardeners also swear by sticking copper tape around the rim of pots, although a recent trial by the RHS found this to be ineffective. Research is ongoing, however.
- Buy copper rings from Crocus, Dobies and Suttons
How to control slugs
Ultimately, the best thing you can do to control slugs in your garden is to create a healthy ecosystem. Create lots of habitats for slug predators – hedges, shrubs (especially those with berries) and trees will all attract birds such as blackbirds and thrushes, which eat slugs (and snails). If you have room, a wildlife pond is a great addition to your garden – the newts, frogs and toads that use it will also devour slugs. Laying a slat down will attract slow worms, which eat a lot of slugs. Encourage wildlife in to your garden by creating a small hole in a fence so frogs, toads, slow worms and other species, such as hedgehogs, can travel freely between your plot and neighbouring ones. Create a log or leaf pile, or a large open compost heap, where they can make a home.
Healthy soil produces healthy plants that are much more able to withstand slug damage – slugs tend to attack plants that are already weakened in some way. So mulch your garden with homemade compost, composted green waste or well-rotted manure to support healthy soil. If you don’t make your own compost, check out our comprehensive guide to getting started, which also includes a roundup of the best compost bins to buy.
Slug Control In Garden – How To Get Rid Of Slugs
FAQ
How do you get rid of slugs on trees?
What kills slugs naturally?
How do I get rid of slugs in my garden?
You may not be able to eliminate all of the slugs at once. If your slug problem persists, just continue spraying them with white vinegar whenever you find them. Spray a vinegar barrier around your plants. You can also use vinegar as a preventative solution. Just spray vinegar around the perimeter of any plants you want to protect.
How do you stop slugs from crawling over plants?
One of the most obvious methods is to create a gritty barrier between your plant and the slugs. Spread grit, gravel, nutshells or crushed eggshells around your plants and the slugs will avoid crawling over it. Slugs love to feed on fresh green growth such as seedlings, so the younger the plant the more susceptible it is.
How do I protect my plants from slugs?
Hydrated lime: Raises soil pH greatly. Can make soil uninhabitable for many plants. 1% Caffeine spray: Applied directly to the plants you want to protect; kills slugs when they feed. Can negatively affect many plants in unpredictable ways.
Can You Spray slugs with vinegar?
Vinegar can damage plants if it gets on them, so be careful not to spray any plants in your garden! Repeat the process whenever you find new slugs. You may not be able to eliminate all of the slugs at once. If your slug problem persists, just continue spraying them with white vinegar whenever you find them.