
Slugs might look harmless at first, but if you’ve ever spotted slimy trails or chewed-up leaves on your plants, you know they can quickly turn into a big problem. These little pests love to munch on your garden, and if you don’t take action, they can cause some serious damage. In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about slugs, how to get rid of them, and, most importantly, how to keep them from coming back to your garden for good.
About Slugs
Slugs are soft, squishy creatures that thrive in damp, shady spots. While they might seem small and harmless, they actually play an important role in nature by breaking down organic matter and adding nutrients back to the soil. However, when they invade your garden, they can quickly become a headache. There are a few different types of slugs, but they all share the same love for moisture, darkness, and a good plant snack.
What Do Slugs Eat?
Slugs are herbivores and love to snack on all kinds of plants, including your beautiful flowers, veggies, and fruits. They especially go for tender, young plants and leafy greens. You can usually spot their damage by the holes they leave in leaves, their slimy trails, and sometimes even entire plants that are completely eaten away.
Slugs aren’t picky eaters at all. They’ll happily munch on everything from lettuce and hostas to strawberries and even decaying plant parts. This can be a real problem, especially if you’re growing crops or ornamental plants.
What Attracts Slugs to Your Garden?
Knowing what draws slugs to your garden is the first step in keeping them away. Slugs love certain conditions, which is why you’ll often find them in damp, shaded spots.

Moisture: Slugs need a lot of moisture to survive, so they love hanging out in damp areas of the garden, like near ponds or under piles of garden debris.
Shade: Slugs aren’t fans of direct sunlight—they prefer cool, shady areas. That’s why you’ll often find them hiding under big leaves, rocks, or piles of fallen leaves during the day.
Organic Matter: Slugs snack on decaying plant material, so gardens with lots of dead leaves, compost, or other organic matter are more likely to attract them.
Any Benefits of Having Slugs in Your Garden?
While slugs might seem like nothing but trouble, they actually offer a few benefits when in small numbers. They help break down decaying organic material in your garden, turning dead plant matter into valuable nutrients that can boost the overall health of your soil.
Slugs also serve as food for other creatures like birds and frogs. If you have slug-eating predators in your garden, a few slugs can actually help support those animals.
However, when slug populations get out of hand, they quickly become more trouble than help. They can damage plants faster than predators can keep up, so if you’re facing a big slug problem, it’s time to take action.
How to Get Rid of Slugs in the Garden
If you’re dealing with a slug invasion, don’t stress—there are plenty of effective ways to get rid of them without harming your plants or the environment. Check out these tried-and-true methods:
Natural Remedies

Beer Traps
One of the most popular and effective natural ways to control slugs is by using a beer trap. Just bury a shallow container in the ground so the top is level with the soil, and fill it with beer. Slugs are drawn to it and will crawl in, where they’ll drown. It’s a simple, low-cost way to catch slugs without needing any harmful chemicals.

Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is a natural powder made from the fossilized remains of algae. When slugs come into contact with it, the powder dries out their bodies, leading to their demise. To use it, simply sprinkle diatomaceous earth around the base of your plants or in areas where slugs are active. Just remember to reapply it after it rains.

Hand-Picking
It might sound a little gross, but hand-picking slugs is a simple and effective way to cut down their numbers. Head out to your garden at night when slugs are most active, and pick them off your plants. Drop them into a container of soapy water to get rid of them. This method works best for smaller infestations, but if you stay on top of it, it can make a big difference.
Barriers and Deterrents

Copper Tape or Mesh
Slugs really dislike copper because it gives them a mild electric shock when they touch it. You can use copper tape around the edges of raised beds, pots, or plant containers to create a barrier they won’t want to cross. It’s a non-toxic and humane way to keep slugs away from your plants.

Mulch Barriers
Rough, dry materials like crushed eggshells, sand, or gravel can create physical barriers that slugs have a hard time crawling over. Simply scatter these materials around your plants to keep slugs from getting too close.
Predators
One of the best natural ways to control slugs is by attracting their predators to your garden. Birds, frogs, and even certain insects love snacking on slugs, so bringing them to your garden can help keep slug numbers down. To attract these slug-eating creatures, try the following:
- Add Water Sources: Set up birdbaths or small ponds to attract birds and frogs to your garden.
- Create Hiding Spots: Leave piles of rocks or logs in your garden to provide shelter for slug-eating predators.
- Grow Other Plants: Plant sunflowers or mint to attract birds and other creatures that help keep slugs in check.
How to Keep Slugs Away from Your Garden
Once you’ve successfully reduced the slug population in your garden, it’s crucial to take steps to keep them from coming back. Here are some strategies to ensure slugs stay away for good:
- Pick Sunny Spots for Planting: Slugs are drawn to shady, moist spots, so try to avoid planting in areas that stay damp or shaded most of the day. Choose sunnier spots where slugs have a harder time thriving.
- Try Raised Garden Beds: Raised garden beds improve drainage and make it tougher for slugs to reach your plants. Combine raised beds with other barriers to further reduce slug activity.
- Watch Your Watering: Since slugs love damp conditions, cutting back on moisture in your garden will make it less appealing to them. Water your plants in the morning, avoid overwatering, and ensure good drainage in areas where slugs are common.
- Keep Your Garden Clean: Keep your garden tidy by clearing away plant debris, fallen leaves, and weeds, all of which create perfect hiding spots for slugs. Also, remove any mulch that has broken down into a damp, slug-friendly mess.
Slug-Resistant Plants
Some plants naturally repel slugs because of their texture, smell, or bitterness. Adding these slug-resistant plants to your garden can help keep slugs away. Try planting:
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you get rid of slugs permanently?
To get rid of slugs for good, make your garden less inviting by keeping it dry, cleaning up debris, and using simple methods like beer traps and diatomaceous earth. Keeping your Garden clean and adding barriers like copper tape will also help keep slugs away.
How do I stop slugs from eating my plants?
You can stop slugs by setting up barriers around your plants, using plants that slugs don’t like (Rosemary or Lavender), or setting up simple traps like beer containers. Keeping your garden dry and clean will also make it less inviting for slugs.
What do slugs hate most?
Slugs hate dry conditions, rough surfaces like crushed eggshells, and copper barriers, which give them a little shock. They also stay away from strong-smelling plants like lavender and rosemary.