Stopping Slugs from Devastating Beach Morning Glory

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Robby

When you find snails or slugs in the garden and they’ve started demolishing your plants, you might be willing to do just about anything to get rid of these pests. For many people the first thought is to pick up a commercial snail repellent or the first slug-killing concoction you can find at your local garden store. While commercial products are usually effective, which is the main reason they are so appealing, they can also be expensive, harmful to beneficial insects and animals, or unnecessarily toxic.

So, before you go for more expensive, lethal, or toxic methods, try natural, non-toxic, and (mostly) non-lethal home remedies to keep snails and slugs out of gardens.

With their vibrant flowers and fast growth, beach morning glory vines (Ipomoea pes-caprae) are a gorgeous addition to coastal gardens. However, their succulent foliage is also irresistible to slugs and snails, which can quickly skeletonize the leaves and damage plants. Protecting beach morning glories from these slimy pests requires diligence and multiple control strategies.

Identifying Slug and Snail Damage

Learning to recognize the signs of slugs and snail feeding is the first step in control:

  • Irregular holes in leaves, sometimes leaving only veins behind

  • Slime trails visible on leaves and nearby surfaces

  • Plants appearing partially eaten or shredded

  • Seedlings disappearing overnight

  • Wilted. weakened plants from excessive feeding

Inspect plants thoroughly at dawn and dusk when slugs are most active to detect infestations early before major damage occurs.

Organic and Natural Ways to Control Slugs

For an eco-friendly approach, start with these tactics to protect beach morning glories:

  • Handpick slugs and snails after dark and drop them into soapy water. Be thorough and persistent.

  • Set out shallow dishes of beer near plants to attract and drown slugs. Keep them filled.

  • Sprinkle a perimeter of abrasive diatomaceous earth around plants to deter slugs from crossing. Reapply after rain or watering.

  • Pull mulch back from plant stems to eliminate shelter. Copper strips around beds repel slugs.

  • Remove daytime refuge spots like boards, stones, or dense groundcovers near plants.

  • Introduce predator insects like fireflies or ground beetles to feed on slugs. Avoid harming these beneficials.

Chemical Slug Control Options

If non-toxic methods are insufficient, certain conventional slug baits and barriers can be effective:

  • Iron phosphate bait is less toxic to pets and wildlife than metaldehyde products. Apply sparingly and reapply weekly.

  • Spread slug prills around the soil perimeter, avoiding contact with plant parts. These melt and deter slugs upon contact.

  • Diatomaceous earth sprinkled around plants cuts through a slug’s protective mucus, causing them to dehydrate.

  • Copper stripping around planting beds provides a barrier slugs won’t cross. Keep a 3-4 inch gap between strips.

  • Pick up any uneaten bait after applying to avoid harming other insects and animals. Follow all label precautions.

smart prevention

Prevention is the best long-term solution for protecting beach morning glories from slug devastation.

  • Eliminate sheltering sites by clearing plant debris, stones, boards, or dense groundcovers near plants.

  • Maintain a perimeter of diatomaceous earth, copper tape, or other barriers around beds.

  • Check for slug eggs under boards and pots and destroy them.

  • Manage garden moisture to avoid overly damp conditions attractive to slugs.

  • Coordinate with neighbors, since slugs easily migrate from nearby properties.

Remain Vigilant

Slugs are most active at night and in damp conditions. Regular daytime monitoring and prompt handpicking is key. Consistency is critical to control slugs before they damage beach morning glory plants. Be attentive, implement diverse organic and chemical control options as needed, and always take preventative steps for the most effective and environmentally responsible protection.

how to get rid of slugs on beach morning glory plant

Getting Rid of Slugs and Snails For Good

Slugs and snails are common pests, especially in coastal communities like Carmel Valley, La Jolla and Point Loma, but they don’t have to be at the end of your garden. Keeping your garden tidy and knowing how to control them is just part of keeping your outdoor living space thriving. Be sure to keep your garden as tidy and clean-cut as possible to keep snails and slugs from entering in the first place.

For more tips on ways to improve your outdoor living space, Install-It-Direct is here to help you. We’ve provided landscape design services to San Diego and the surrounding areas for over 25 years!

Water your garden in the AM.

Snails and slugs are known for destroying gardens at night. They also have difficulty moving across dry soil compared to moist soil. So, if we put these two pieces of knowledge together, we have another way to keep snails and slugs out of your garden: watering early in the morning.

This gives the top layer your garden soil some time to dry out before the evening when slugs do the most damage, which makes it more difficult for slugs and snails to get to your plants.

Simple Way To STOP SLUGS Eating Your Crops #homestead #gardening #cooking

FAQ

Do slugs like morning glory?

Morning glories aren’t frost hardy, so don’t put them outside until you’re sure all risk of night-time frosts has passed. Without any protection your seedlings will be attacked by slugs and snails.

Can you sprinkle salt around plants to kill slugs?

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.

How do you kill slugs but not plants?

Surround vulnerable plants with a barrier that harms slugs: diatomaceous earth (DE). The diatoms (fossilized phytoplankton) that make up DE shred soft slug bodies, which causes them to dry out and die. Apply DE in a band 1 inch high and 3 inches wide. Replace DE after it becomes damp.

What can I spray on my plants to keep slugs away?

Some gardeners swear by homemade snail and slug repellents. This are made by mixing garlic or coffee grounds into water in a spray bottle. Spray down your plants with this mixture, as well as the ground around the plants to deter slugs and snails.

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