Sluggo and Escargot are two products that are very successful against slugs. Also pretty much organic and harmless to pets.

You could just put a fairly thin barrier around the pot, like some diatomacous earth. Very course sand seems like it would work, I don't know. Something with really sharp edges, the really small, sharp gravel can work. I've read that vermiculite works well because the slugs don't like that it moves. If you have a copper strip to surround the pot, supposedly the copper will give it a bit of a shock or something. Crushed eggshells should work, but might not look that good in a visable area.

do sluggo, escargot, and diatomacous earth need to be reapplied after every rain? i *kinda* would like something that would last for awhile........thanks, phyl

what about this? .. i have an area behind a garden shed (out of sight) .. slugs wouldn't crawl up scratchy cement blocks, would they?

would putting some sort of covered ring of salt around the pot area help since salt is supposed to kill slugs? or is that snails? some sort of covering to keep the salt from splashing onto the plants and into the soil during rain and also keep salted rain water from running under the pots somehow? or maybe raising the pots up on . . . milk crates or plant stands and salting the ground around them?

just some thoughts :)

The last few years I've kept slugs from feasting on some of my more tender hostas by giving the emerging plants a good spraying of an ammonia and water solution. A light monthly spritz to get them throughout the season. Cheap and easy to mix in with other garden chores like weeding. I would think it would work similarly with perennials. (You may want to check the hosta forum for other slug tactics).

that sounds like a really easy solution .. but i thought the ammonia formula was strictly a *contact* solution with no residual benefits? .. so many people seem to have different opinions on this matter .. i definitely want *your opinion* to be right! (GRIN)

i have also tried salt, but it washes away with rain ..
thanks, phyl

Sluggo will last for a long time even if it's rainy. That stuff is great. I use it inside as well since my orchids have a mild infestation of bush snails. Even with watering the pots twice a week, I only have to reapply the stuff every couple of months.

Kevin

I feel I can relate, given my slug problems. First, Sluggo/Escargo (same substance) is great for diminishing a slug population organically, but you need to keep in constantly around. Rain will eventually wash it away. In z5, I will start with the first round about mid-April, then keep it applied every 2-3 weeks in the problem areas.

You probably don't want salt in your garden, and slugs definitely crawl over scratchy cement, smooth pebbles and even window screens. They will avoid chicken grit or limestone chips, since they're sharp. I've been known to place a piece of sandpaper under a tomato that's ripening on the ground to protect it as well!

i have never heard about using sandpaper .. i will definitely try it .. just as soon as it warms up around here again! thanks, phyl