A Gardeners Forum Forums Gardening Reference Gardening in 2007 Slug/snail repellant

Can anyone recommend a good slug/snail repellant? I'm planning on putting some hosta's in my shade area but have heard that slugs and snails really like them and I don't want them eating my plants. I wasn't sure if there was a brand that works better or if they are all basically the same.

Chermoni, you might want to check right here at Garden Helper for answers before you go shopping.

Thanks, that helped me come up with some new ideas. Slugs can really be a problem out here and I want to know what to do before I have a problem.

There is always Diatomaceous earth...it works really well. $8.00 for a big bag at Lowes! Just sprinkle it over the area you are concerned about, and it slices the little buggers open if they crawl on it! Also good for fleas, ants...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Diatomaceous_earth

I had a slug problem really bad. If you can find some cheap coffee. Give it a try it worked wonders for my slug problem It has to be unused coffee. Not starbucks prevously brewed.

I've been told that coffee can actually deter slugs and snails.
However, since I have not yet had a problem with either one, I haven't tried it myself.

I'm not sure how strong it would need to be so I'd get a cheap jar of instant coffee and experiment with varying degrees of dilution, and see what happens. It certainly won't hurt to try it :-)

Let us know if you try it how well it works!

Doh. cinta already mentioned the same thing hehe

Also, cheap beer. Cut off the tops of a can of beer and bury a bit in the dirt and the slugs will be attracted to it (who wouldn't?) and drown in it. I'm personally interested in trying the diatomaceous earth method, as I have a tons of slugs all the time.

Chermoni,

I use crushed egg shells and they seem to do the trick for me. I always save them throughout the winter, so I have a good supply when spring arrives. My Hostas have never been happier and the slugs stay away from them.