My grandmother always had a can of beer in her fridge, which I found a little odd, considering I’d never seen her imbibe. She apparently kept it around for the slugs, so she could lure the destructive pests away from her flowers.
Slugs have been abundant in the garden this spring, as plentiful rainfall has kept moisture around the plants. Putting out saucers of beer is just one of many methods for controlling these pesky creatures.
Slugs are shell-less gastropods, which feed on decaying organic matter, lichen and mushrooms, as well as many of our favorite ornamental perennials, flowers and vegetables. They seem to have a keen taste for pansies, hosta plants and strawberries. We tend to have more problems with slugs in the shady areas of the garden, where there is more moisture.
Slugs feed at night, chewing the leaves of plants, and leaving behind a slimy trail. Left unchecked, they can turn a plant into a mushy mess in just a few days.
Slugs and snails can be a nuisance in gardens destroying ornamental plants and edible crops. These slimy pests use their rasping tongues to chew holes in foliage and feed on roots below ground. While chemical molluscicides are effective Epsom salt provides a natural control option. When used properly, this mineral can repel, dehydrate, and kill slugs and snails.
What is Epsom Salt?
Epsom salt, also known as magnesium sulfate, is a mineral compound comprised of magnesium, sulfur, and oxygen. It dissolves readily in water and is commonly used in bath salts. Epsom salt also has applications for pest control, plant nutrition, and other household uses.
The name comes from its discovery in the bitter saline springs located in Epsom, England. Epsom salt has been used for centuries as a natural remedy for various ailments. Inside the garden, it can deter slugs in two ways:
- The abrasive texture of salt crystals deters slugs upon contact, similar to table salt.
- Magnesium sulfate is hydrating and absorbs moisture which dehydrates and desiccates slugs.
When applied correctly around plants, Epsom salt provides an economical, non-toxic salt barrier that can stop slugs in their tracks
Will Plain Epsom Salt Kill Slugs?
Yes, plain Epsom salt crystals will kill slugs through contact and dehydration. However, table salt or rock salt is usually more effective and affordable than Epsom salt.
The main advantages of Epsom salt are:
- Provides supplemental magnesium, an essential plant nutrient needed for photosynthesis.
- Improves the absorption of nitrogen and phosphorous.
- Decomposes and enriches soil over time unlike table salt.
Since Epsom salt releases beneficial minerals into the soil, it can be used around ornamental plants and in the vegetable garden. Table salt may damage plants when used heavily over time.
How to Apply Epsom Salt as a Slug Barrier
To create a protective barrier that repels slugs, follow these steps:
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Water plants well before application. Well hydrated plants are less likely to absorb excess Epsom salt. Watering the day before creates a moisture buffer.
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Sprinkle a 3-6 inch wide band around susceptible plants. Focus on the drip line area where slugs travel and congregate.
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Cover the salt with a thin layer of mulch or soil to prevent runoff. This allows the Epsom salt to remain effective longer after irrigation.
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Pick up any slug carcasses and dispose of them away from the garden. Leaving them in place risks recontamination of crops.
Reapply the Epsom salt barrier every 1-2 weeks or after heavy rain or watering.
Epsom Salt Spray for Direct Application
For direct application onto affected plants, create a salt spray by mixing 1-2 tablespoons Epsom salt per gallon of water. Add the salt first and stir until fully dissolved. Pour the solution into a spray bottle or pump sprayer and completely coat the leaves, stems, and surrounding soil surface where slug damage is visible.
Test spray a small area first to ensure the dilution is safe for the plants. Reapply the Epsom salt spray after rainfall washes it away. Combining cayenne pepper or garlic into the spray repels slugs through taste aversion on top of salt’s abrasive effects.
Always spray in the evening or early morning to avoid leaf burn. Never apply to plants that are heat or drought stressed.
Watering Can Method for Large Areas
For large gardens, flower beds, or row crops suffering extensive slug damage, Epsom salt can be diluted in water and generously applied using a watering can.
Fill a 2-5 gallon bucket halfway with hot water. Add 1/2 -1 cup Epsom salt and stir until fully dissolved. Top off the bucket with cool water and stir again. Use this salt solution to liberally drench affected areas. Reapply weekly or after heavy rain.
The Epsom salt gets taken up by the soil and leaves a protective zone around plant roots while also providing nutrients.
When to Apply Epsom Salt
- Spring – Early in the season when young seedlings and transplants are most vulnerable.
- Summer – During hot, humid weather when slug populations surge.
- Fall – To protect autumn crops like lettuce, kale, carrots, and cool season greens.
- After rain – Reapply salt after heavy rain or watering washes away the barrier.
- Evening – Best applied at sundown when slugs are active. Avoid watering at night.
- 1-2 week intervals – Reapply salt every 7-14 days for best results.
Where to Apply Epsom Salt
- Flower beds – All around the outer edges to block slug entry.
- Vegetable garden – Focus around seedlings, low-growing crops, and along garden perimeter.
- Potted plants – Sprinkle in a ring around the container rim where slugs crawl up.
- Hostas, lettuces, greens – Slug favorite crops need thorough protection.
- Damp areas – Target naturally moist parts of the landscape.
- Under boards – Slugs hide under debris; lift and sprinkle salt underneath.
Epsom Salt Rate for Slug Control
- Light infestation – Apply 0.5 lbs Epsom salt per 100 square feet.
- Moderate infestation – Use 1 lb Epsom salt per 100 square feet.
- Heavy infestation – Up to 2 lbs per 100 square feet may be needed.
- Ring around plants – Apply a band 2-4 inches wide around each plant.
- Container plants – 1/2 teaspoon per 4-6 inches of pot circumference.
Risks and Precautions When Using Epsom Salt
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Avoid excessive use on plants. Too much Epsom salt can build up in soil and cause nutrient imbalances over time.
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Keep salts away from young seedlings and salt-sensitive plants like beans, onions, and cabbage which may be damaged by over-application.
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Prevent runoff into bodies of water where excess magnesium can trigger algae blooms and imbalance ecosystems.
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Do not inhale Epsom salt dust. Wear a mask and dampen the area when applying.
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Wash hands after handling Epsom salt to prevent accidental eye irritation or ingestion.
Alternatives to Epsom Salt for Slug Control
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Diatomaceous earth (DE) – Natural abrasive dust that dehydrates slugs. Must be reapplied frequently.
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Crushed eggshells – Coarse, sharp texture repels slugs. Scatter around plants.
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Coffee grounds – Caffeine and aroma deter slugs. Spread around garden beds.
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Gravel, sand, cinders – Gritty substrates discourage slug travel and damage foliage when they crawl over them.
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Beer traps – Yeasty brew attracts then drowns slugs. Set containers level with soil.
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Slug predator insects – Beetles, fireflies, ground beetles eat slugs. Attract them naturally.
When applied properly, Epsom salt provides an affordable, non-toxic, and eco-friendly slug control option that doubles as a fertilizer. Along with cultural methods like removing debris, mulching, and encouraging predators, this mineral can help protect plants from slug devastation using natural means. Epsom salt is worth trying to take back your garden from these bothersome pests!
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There a number of ways to eliminate slugs, depending on where the problem is happening. I’ve found that the most effective control methods are easy, homemade, and usually require very little time.
My trouble spots include my backyard shade garden and my planters. I have large planters outside my entryways that I plant seasonally. Slugs seem to have a radar on these planters, and know the exact day I put in the pansies. A thick smear of Vaseline around the base and rim of the pots works good at keeping slugs from reaching the plants, as it creates a surface too slippery to climb. This method works good until cascading plants begin to trail.
Most slug damage happens at ground level, though. Perhaps the most common control method is spreading a coarse material around the perimeter of your beds or encircling each plant you are protecting. When slugs crawl through something gritty and dry, it cuts up their soft bodies and kills them. This barrier is usually enough to deter slugs from crossing. Diatomaceous earth, gravel, ashes, crushed shells, sand and lime are all effective. Cheap, non-clumping cat litter also works good.
Serving up beer to garden slugs is a very functional way to minimize damage to your ornamentals. Slugs are attracted to beer because of its fermented nature — yeast and sugar are more appealing than hosta leaves. Just halfway fill any kind of shallow saucer with cheap beer, and sit it in the garden where you’re having slug trouble. I use recyclables for my slug saucers, such as metal or plastic lids.
Many people suggest controlling slugs with salt. But salt will kill them, rather than simply control them. Along with saucers of beer, my grandmother would keep a jar of salt on her front stoop, solely for killing lingering slugs slithering away at sunrise. Making a direct slug kill using salt will draw out the water from a slug’s moist body, resulting in death by dehydration. That’s cruel and unusual punishment — even for a slug. Plus, regular salt should never be used around your plants, as it causes adverse effects.
Epsom salts, though, are an effective control method. Epsom salts contain magnesium, which is a nutrient most plants will utilize. Applying a band of Epsom salt around your beds or plants will work as a slug barrier.
I have recently heard of using copper to thwart slugs in the garden. The natural electrical charge present in copper is enough to mildly shock these slimy creatures, keeping them away from your plants. Copper foil tape is the most commonly used medium, which is cut and banded around planters and window boxes. Copper foil tape can be expensive, but it may be well worth the price to protect your garden.
Of course, there are chemical and organic products available for slug control, which you can find at the garden center. But the active ingredient in some slug baits can be poisonous to humans and pets, and it can kill many beneficial insects. There are several organic options on the market as well, which are very effective and safe.
But with so many useful DIY slug remedies, you’re sure to find an easy and efficient way to rid your garden of these destructive critters.
If you have a gardening question or story idea, write to Amy Dixon in care of Features, Winston-Salem Journal, P.O. Box 3159, Winston-Salem, NC 27101-3159 or send an email to her attention to [email protected]. Put gardening in the subject line. Find Amy Dixon on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WSJAmyDixon.
Simple Way To STOP SLUGS Eating Your Crops #homestead #gardening #cooking
FAQ
How to use Epsom salt to kill slugs?
Epsom salts, though, are an effective control method. Epsom salts contain magnesium, which is a nutrient most plants will utilize. Applying a band of Epsom salt around your beds or plants will work as a slug barrier.
Can I sprinkle Epsom salt around plants?
Adding Epsom salts to soil that already has sufficient magnesium can actually harm your soil and plants, such as by inhibiting calcium uptake.
Does Epsom salt kill insects?
See the most common methods for using Epsom salt as a pest repellent below: Dry Epsom Salt: Sprinkle dry Epsom salt in a narrow band around the base of plants. As the dry substance abrades the “skin” of soft-bodied pests, they’ll supposedly dry up and die.
How to get rid of slugs permanently?
Use diatomaceous earth, crushed eggshells or copper wire around plants to create a barrier that slugs cannot cross. Put out bait – Put out bait such as a pan of beer or an upside down melon rind. The slugs will be attracted to the tender or liquid treat. With beer, they will drown in it.
Does Epsom salt kill snails and slugs?
It works to make snails and slugs disappear. This salt is known to be good for the soil, but in a way, it can also be harmful to the soil as well. Make sure you’re paying attention to this before applying the Epsom salts. This is due to the fact that Epsom salt contains a lot of sulfur and magnesium.
What are the benefits of using Epsom salt?
The inorganic name of Epsom salt is magnesium sulphate. Its a combination of magnesium, Sulphur and oxygen. It is crystalloid and appears white just like the normal salt. It is safe to use externally as a bath salt or in dressing for wounds as it is readily absorbed into the skin. In olden days it was used in treating constipation, muscle fatigue and insomnia. Oral intake should be under medical supervision. Consumption of more than a pinch results in diarrhea, abdominal bloating, nausea, headache, light headedness and flushed skin. Daily soaking of the feet in warm water with added Epsom salt would reduce magnesium deficiency.
Does Epsom salt kill Bugs?
Epsom Salt for Vegetable Bugs – Some popular gardening websites claim that you can safely sprinkle a thin line of dry Epsom salt directly in, or alongside, the row when you plant vegetable seeds. Reapply every couple of weeks to keep pests away from your tender seedlings. As an added bonus, plants may benefit from the boost of magnesium and sulfur.
Does salt kill slugs?
This will ensure that when snails and slugs arrive, they are stopped before even entering your garden, acting as a barrier. If snails or slugs cross the line, the dehydrating and abrasive properties of the salt will kill them before they harm your plants. Slugs are a persistent pest in gardens.
Do slugs eat salt?
Slugs have soft, thin skin that doesn’t offer them a lot of protection. Whenever they come into contact with salt, slugs make more slimy mucus to try and clean off their bodies. After a few minutes, slugs can’t produce enough mucus to protect themselves, so they dry out completely. Should I salt slugs if I find them on my plants?
Can you use Epsom salt as a pesticide?
Here are a few ideas for using Epsom salt as pesticide: Epsom Salt Solution Insect Control – A mixture of 1 cup (240 ml.) Epsom salt and 5 gallons (19 L.) of water may act as a deterrent to beetles and other garden pests. Mix the solution in a large bucket or other container and then apply the well-dissolved mixture to foliage with a pump sprayer.