16 Natural Ways to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails

Slime trails and ragged edges on plant stems and leaves are strong signs that slugs or snails have been in your garden. The problem may even go further, as the pests can also damage underground tubers and seedlings.

Snails and slugs are a major problem most gardeners face at some point. Thus, as soon as you spot them or see signs that they are there, make every effort to get rid of them from your garden.

Here’s how to get rid of slugs and snails naturally:

1. Table Salt

Table salt is an excellent home remedy to kill slugs and snails almost instantly, within minutes.

Sprinkle it on these pests. It will absorb their body fluids and dehydrate them to death. Epsom salt works similarly for controlling slugs.

2. Remove Them by Hand

This might be a gross home remedy to stop slugs from eating your plants, but it works.

Wait about an hour or two after the sun goes down, then go look at your garden. Bring a flashlight so you can see the critters.

You don’t need to use your bare hands. We recommend using a pair of tweezers or wearing gloves when picking them off.

Slugs are most active from spring through fall and love cool, damp, shaded areas [1]. Therefore, look under groundcover plants and in any dark or shady areas, such as on the bottom of rocks. This is the best way to find them, but you should also look for eggs.

When searching for eggs, keep in mind that they might be white, yellow, or clear. They also have a jelly-like texture. They usually appear in clusters on the soil surface, covered by organic debris.

Moreover, there are certain plants that these pests are fond of. These include basil, cabbage, strawberries, lettuce, hostas, dahlias, beans, and succulents. So look for them around these plants.

3. Beneficial Nematodes

Let’s put it this way: Snails and slugs are bad for your garden plants. However, the use of beneficial nematodes is a natural way to kill soil-dwelling slugs and snails.

You can purchase beneficial nematodes online. Follow the instructions that come with your order on how to use it.

4. Cornmeal

Some gardeners find that cornmeal is useful for attracting and killing a few slugs and snails.

Just pour small piles of cornmeal at various locations in your garden. You can also put some cornmeal in a jar and lay it on its side for them to crawl in and eat.

5. Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth works incredibly well for killing these garden pests. It has sharp, fine edges that will damage their soft bodies.

Sprinkle this organic slug and snail killer around your vegetable garden. However, you will have to reapply after a heavy shower of rain.

You can also use it in spray form. Make a homemade slug-repellent spray by mixing 4 tablespoons of diatomaceous earth with a gallon of water.

Shake well and use it to spray your plants. It will become effective against these pests once it dries out.

6. Scratchy Surfaces

Another neat method to keep slugs out of the garden and house is to lay down rough surfaces.

Surround your garden and flower pots with scratchy surfaces such as sandpaper or crushed eggshells. You’ll find that these pests leave the garden and stop climbing up your pots.

7. Beer 

To make a homemade beer trap for slugs and snails, look for a nice spot where you can bury a container.

Make sure this is close to the affected area of your garden and yard. Now, let the beer get stale, then fill the container to about an inch deep.

Next, place the container in the spot and bury it so the rim is level with the ground. Slugs and snails are attracted to the smell, so they’ll drop in and drown.

Besides, any type of beer will do. This natural slug trap also works great for greenhouses and indoor spaces.

8. Coffee Grounds

Caffeine is toxic to slugs and snails, which makes used coffee grounds effective in getting them to leave your garden.

To get rid of slugs and snails with coffee grounds, sprinkle some around your plants. Or, make a caffeine spray and douse them.

9. Natural Predators

This is one of the best methods for getting rid of pests in the garden.

Birds that eat slugs include jays, magpies, robins, starlings, and blackbirds. These natural predators also adore pecking at other garden pests.

Therefore, set up a birdbath or a couple of bird feeders nearby to attract birds. Other natural enemies include toads, turtles, snakes, and chickens.

10. Copper Surfaces

These pests don’t like copper surfaces. Why? Because copper reacts with the slime they produce, disrupting their nervous system.

Try using copper slug tape around your flower pots, grow beds, and greenhouse to keep the critters away.

11. Vinegar Solution

Does vinegar kill snails? Yes, it will, and it kills slugs too.

To get rid of snails and slugs with vinegar, combine one cup of vinegar with half a cup of water in a spray bottle. When these pests are active, go out and spray them.

12. Human Hair Clippings

If you have a local hair salon or barbershop, ask them for some floor sweepings of human hair.

You can place hair around the base of your plants and affected areas of your house to help eliminate or deter snails and slugs. It also works great for potted plants.

How does this work? It’s simple. They will get tangled up in it.

As a bonus, the hair will also add nitrogen to the soil as it starts to decompose, making your plants even healthier [2].

13. Garlic Spray

To make garlic spray for slugs, a basic recipe is to blend one bulb of garlic in a liter of water.

Let the mixture stand for about ten minutes. Next, strain it and use it to spray your plants and the pests that you see.

Thanks to the allicin in minced garlic, this solution helps repel slugs and snails naturally.

14. Grapefruit Halves 

One of the best home remedies for slug prevention is the grapefruit trap. It is a simple trick that many people overlook. First, enjoy a grapefruit!

Next, take the empty peel halves and place them open-side down near the plants you’ve seen them destroying. They’ll take the bait and hide underneath.

In the morning, remove the slugs and feed them to the birds!

15. Traps  

To stop slugs and snails from eating your plants without killing them, try using humane traps such as Slug Saloon or Snailer.

You can also place a piece of plywood or a board near the area where you see them gathering most often. They’ll likely hide underneath, which makes it easy for you to move them someplace else.

16. Safe and Natural Slug Control Products

Sluggo and Slug Gone are safe and natural repellent products for getting rid of slugs organically.

These are both made of ingredients that are safe for use in your organic garden.

Takeaway

Snails and slugs are two of the most common pests that attack vegetables in the garden. However, the home remedies and natural methods above will help control them, prevent an infestation, and, in some cases, get rid of them permanently.