The 3 common signs that you've got a slug infestation on your plants - and how to treat it
SLUGS are a frequent visitor to gardens across the UK, often making a return when the ground is damp and heading straight for our beloved plants and vegetation.
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These soft-bodied molluscs thrive in moist conditions and are the most likely culprit for the many holes punched through the leaves, flowers stems and roots of your plants. Whilst there are many ways to treat these pesky visitors, how can you know if it’s really slugs causing the problem? These three simple tricks are a fool-proof way to identify a slug infestation in your garden.
Slime-trails
The telltale signs of slugs amongst your plants is their shiny - slime trail which they leave behind.
Slugs feed at night so be sure to look out for their glistening trails in the morning sun, particularly during the summer months when the evening humidity is particularly attractive to these slow-moving creatures
Pay particular attention to these silvery deposits in your garden after heavy rain and after plants are watered especially in the Spring and summer as damage is usually most severe during warm humid periods.
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Slugs and snails are active all year but they’re a particular problem in spring, when there’s plenty of young growth for them to eat.
Irregular hole patterns
According to The Royal Horticultural Society, slugs can make irregular holes in plant tissue with their rasping mouthparts and will kill young seedlings by eating them entirely.
Vegetables and ornamental plants are a go-to meal choice for slugs so always take a look at soft growth and seedlings across your garden to assess the level of infestation through the irregular hole patterns they leave behind.
Growing the following plants can be very tricky if you have regular visits from slugs:
- Hostas
- Delphiniums
- Dahlias
- Gerbera
- Sweet peas
- Tulips
In the vegetable garden, peas, beans, lettuce, celery, asparagus and potato tubers are often damaged by these unwanted pests so take extra precautions if you’re looking to grow any of these uninterrupted.
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Keep an eye out for:
Large, ragged holes in tender leaves and flowers as this is a good indication of slugs being present among your flowers.
Chewed leaves with evidence of slime on the ground.
Timing is everything when working out what it is that’s eating your plants.
If you notice damage to your garden greenery in the Springtime check out the holes and see if they match the irregular holes which are typical of slugs.
From early March to late May, fewer insects are active so the likelihood of slugs being the culprit is higher.
If slugs have visited for a nibble of your garden, you’ll notice tiny scalloped edges or continual rows of small bites if a large pack of slugs have got to your flowers and vegetables.
Tip - check your plants at night with a flashlight to catch these pests in the act and confirm whether you’re dealing with slugs or snails.
How to protect your plants against slugs
All green fingered people are familiar with this problem, pesky pests living and feeding on the plants that we’ve put so much effort into growing – they can do some serious damage too. But how do we get rid of them, in a natural manner?
Speaking exclusively to Express.co.uk, the team at Hillarys have concluded the best chemical-free ways to keep slugs aways.
Soapy water
Mix five tablespoons of dish soap with four cups of water in a bottle with a nozzle and spray plants with the bubbly solution.
The soap will dehydrate aphids and spider mites and they will be deterred from settling on your plants.
Beer
Save a couple of beers from the fridge at home as they can be very useful for snails and slugs too.
Set out saucers of beer near the plant to prevent these little creatures from munching on plant leaves and roots or substitute the beer for grape juice, grapefruit or orange rinds which can also make good traps.
Garlic
Garlic’s strong smell deters bugs and can come in very handy when protecting your beloved plants.
Stick a clove of garlic into the soil of houseplants to keep bugs away - even bugs can’t stand garlic breath.
Pepper spray
Create a solution of two tablespoons red pepper, six drops of dish soap and one gallon of water, and spray small amounts of the solution all over your plants.
Black pepper, chili pepper, dill, ginger or paprika can also work because they contain capsaicin, which repels spider mites and other insects.