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Tuesday, February 4, 2025

Gardening expert reveals how to get rid of slugs once and for all in winter

In the past decade or so, invasive slugs started appearing by hundreds in gardens, causing serious damage, as they like to nibble on fresh seedlings and tender leaves.

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Lucie Bradley, a gardening expert, explains what could be behind the fact that these little pests suddenly have multiplied excessively in our gardens. The reasons are not as incomprehensible as they may appear.

“Slugs are not only the bane of gardeners’ lives after they munch the new growth of precious plants, demolish seedlings overnight and munch irregularly-shaped holes in leaves, the slimy creatures also evoke a sense of unease and phobia in the hearts of everyday individuals,” says the expert.

“Snails and slugs are most active at night and on cloudy or foggy days. On sunny days, they seek hiding places from the heat and bright light. Often the only clues to their presence are their silvery trails and plant damage. During cold weather, snails and slugs hibernate in the topsoil,” she explains.

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From the spring until the autumn, there is a major factor that contributes to the overgrowth of slugs, and this is none other than over-watering. A humid environment is favorable for them, and winter is no exception. Unfortunately, excessive rainfall creates a situation that is even more difficult to prevent, since we have no control over it.

“Slugs are scavengers and feed on decaying plant matter, if there is decaying organic material in your garden, such as fallen leaves or compost, it can attract them,” Bradley points out.

In winter, the gardener should examine the dark, wet spots in the garden more carefully to notice in time if there is a risk of slugs multiplying.

According to the expert, it is important to keep the garden tidy even during the winter: it is recommended to get rid of dead plant parts, mulch, and any other materials that serve as hiding places for slugs. By placing bird feeders, one can attract birds, many of which also feed on slugs, and can help clean up the garden area.

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“Also create physical barriers around susceptible plants using materials like copper tape, diatomaceous earth or eggshells, as slugs are less likely to cross these,” the expert suggests.

Setting up so-called “beer traps” can also be a good option. For this, dig small holes in the ground, then place small containers in them and fill these with beer. The yeast content in beer is very attractive to snails, which will eventually fall into the containers and drown.

However, Bradley also points out that if you believe that the number of snails has not yet become too large, you can even collect them by hand, and remove them from your garden.

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