Typical slug damage on lettuce
(click image for Escar-Go info)

Typical Slug Damage on hosta
(click image for Slug-Out info)

Slug Saloon - for those who believe traps are the best way to control slugs
(click image for info)

Folks, I have discovered something which is relatively new to the United States, but is AMAZING! There are three products now available of which I am aware: Escar-Go (pictured top right), Worry-Free (pictured at bottom left), and Sluggo. All three products use iron phosphate as the active ingredient, with an irresistble bait as the inert ingredient. I have used all three of these products, and they are WONDERFUL! These products can be used around pets & wildlife. After eating the bait, slugs (and snails!) stop feeding, and will crawl away to a secluded place to pass to the Great Beyond. I have watched as slugs detoured from their bee-line path towards my lettuce patch so they could scarf up the pellets. I used to have a major slug problem here in my little garden - I mean, I used to nightly find several slugs 6 or 8 inches long in my garden, plus several dozen much smaller (each night!). I can now attest that my slug problem is practically non-existent, and I attribute this wondrous state in large part to these new products.

I urge you to try these new products. You won't see little dead slug or snail carcasses around, but you will realize that your plants are no longer being munched to death. You also won't have to worry that Fido or Fluffy is going to be killed from ingesting the pellets, or that the birdies who peck a few pellets will end up poisoned. And if the price of these products seems a little high compared to what you normally pay for slug control products, keep in mind that you may only need one box to last an entire season. In fact, one box may last you well into next year!

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PS - If you choose not to use any baits for slug control, I have a little tip: hand pick the critters, and freeze them! I know, I know, this sounds totally disgusting. But what I've discovered is that birds will just go crazy for what I call "Piller Pops". I go out at night and collect any slugs and cutworms and grubs that I find, freeze them, and then the next day I offer the "popsicles" to the birds. I have witnessed the birds battle each other over these delicacies.

PSS - If you just don't want to use any kind of "bait" in your garden, try Slug-Out (pictured above left, second image down). I have not used this, but it sounds intriguing. According to the manufacturer, it is a patented blend of soaps derived from coconuts, prevents slugs from damaging your plants when you apply it in a protective band around your planting area. It is nearly 100% effective for weeks against a wide variety of slugs and snails in lawns, gardens and greenhouses. Protects all kinds of plants. Sprinkle Slug-Out flakes directly out of the bag.  The Slug-Out barrier, which slugs and snails will not cross, will remain effective for about three weeks (longer if it remains dry). After that time, or whenever visible gaps occur, reapply the barrier. It has a very low impact on the environment; there are no concerns about residual build-up.

Here's a really fun link! SLUGS!

Here's a fun book about Slug Tossing!