How to Get Rid of Slugs in the House
Slugs in your house are not only an eyesore but also a sign that your garden is about to get destroyed. When left uncontrolled, slugs can find their way to your house, making it inhabitable. Since the last thing you need is to see their unsightly slimy trails on your walls, cabinet, and carpets, you have no choice but to keep them at bay and ensure they don’t come back to wreak havoc in your home. Here are simple ways to do it but first, find out why they chose your home as their go-to destination.
Why does your house attract slugs?
According to My Clean Home Guide, rainy months are a slug’s best friend. You will hardly find them in dry months unless you frequently water your lawn, making it wet. They will eat vegetables but slowly find their way into your home to devour on your kitchen pantry or even dog food. Another reason slugs find your house an easy target is their ability to slide in creaks or small spaces under your door and windows. They don’t have bones, allowing them to slide through the tiny cracks and holes tinier than their bodies. They are also professional climbers and can take a vertical or upside-down approach so that they can invite themselves into your home. Don’t underestimate a slug’s ability to slide through a hole in your ceiling.
How to get rid of slugs from your home and keep them from coming back
In most cases, slugs come to your home to get warm and shade. Your kitchen pantry could also be what they are targeting. Because they are active at night, it is no wonder you will see their slimy trails after retreating in the morning. There are eight ways of keeping them at bay, as shown below:
1. Use a stick to disempower them
While using a stick to disrupt their enjoyment in your house might sound horrible, it is a viable option if you aren’t squeamish. It starts by poking a stick into them and dropping them in water. They will drown instantly, putting your mind at ease. It’s an easy way of killing them, but you can never tell how many they are out there.
2. Use salt
Salt is a slug’s or snail’s sworn enemy, according to Dengarden. If you see them pour salt, preferably sea salt, and watch them melt away. Be careful not to pour too much salt as it can affect beneficial plants. Some studies suggest that this method is only temporary. They might keep coming back once the salt dissolves after the rains or when watering your lawn using a hose. So, make sure you do it in moderation.
3. Create a bird table
A bird table is an excellent idea if you want birds to prey on slugs. Common birds devouring slugs include robins, magpies, blackbirds, jays, owls, and starlings. They eat slugs as part of a balanced diet if insects, nuts and seeds aren’t common.
4. Make the ground inhabitable for slugs
You already know that your lawn or kitchen garden is the best hideout place for slugs. How about making the ground appealing by adding some tree bark around bushes? They don’t have bones, making them vulnerable to rough surfaces. You can get eggshells, thorny cuttings, or pine needles to create barriers. Alternatively, put gravel or fine grit so that when the sun hits the ground, slugs will have no choice but to vacate elsewhere. Sharp sand is also an excellent way of repelling slugs from coming into your house, not the yard alone. However, tread carefully when using sand because you don’t want to compromise the soil quality in your yard.
5. Put down a copper tape
Another way of getting rid of slugs is initiating electric shock on their slime using copper tape. Start by laying down the self-adhesive copper tape in your yard to prevent slugs from accessing your plants. If you have potted plants, lay the copper tape on the pots to prevent the mollusc from reaching your potted plants.
6. Remove ground-covering plants or grass
The best hideout place for a slug is under a ground-covering plant, where they take cover until nightfall. They will keep a low profile under them, only to come out when dark. The best solution is to plant flowers that don’t cover the ground. Remember to keep the soil well-aerated so they don’t find your lawn hospitable.
7. Plant natural pesticides
According to The English Garden, plants like Astrantia are natural slug repellents. They have a scent that can choke out slugs in hours. We recommend that you plant it in your garden because it is a natural pest control method instead of non-eco-conscious methods like chemicals. In your garden, other plants you can include rue, wormwood, fennel, rosemary, and anise.
8. Create a beer trap
A beer trap is a 50-50 solution to controlling slugs. They might get repelled or become resistant and find their way into your home. However, it’s better to give it a try because you never know if you’ll get lucky. The best way to create a beer trap is to get two containers and cut them in half. Pour beer on the first half and bury it near susceptible plants. The other half doesn’t need to be filled with beer. Instead, they are traps for the slugs. Ensure the container’s rim is 2-3cm above the ground to prevent slug-feeding ground beetles from entering. Naturally, slugs will get attracted to the beer, fall right inside, and get stuck.
Pro-Tip
Once you’ve succeeded in killing the slugs, ensuring the cracks or holes in your home are sealed is important. You can use polyurethane foam in a can available in most pesticide stores.
Conclusion
From these tips for getting rid of slugs, you can tell they are biological. We don’t recommend using chemicals because of the irreversible effects on the environment. You can use one of two methods depending on how prevalent the slugs are in your home or the severity of their infestation.