Neem Oil and the slugs

15 years ago

Very late last night I hooked up my 15 gal sprayer, filled it up (twice) with the Neem Oil solution and sprayed all of my hosta beds for nemadtodes,if they needed it or not. Would you believe...after finishing I went out with a flashlight and found baby slugs plus 2 mama size slugs on some of the leaves? That Neem Oil makes the leaves oily/shiny...plus it STINKS, and the slugs still were feasting on my hosta! I buy Sluggo in 40 lb bags and use it religiously and I do the ammonia solution AT LEAST once a week. What the heck ??? Since using the Sluggo faithfully for a few years I do see a huge improvement, BUT I see pics posted here of total gardens without one single slug hole. What's the secret? I just don't get it. Why can't someone come up with a slug repellent instead of a bait? They'd become muti-millionaires in no time. (Please just overlook me if I used the words leaves and leafs wrong. I never could get that correct and I have some kind of mental block about learning the correct useage too.)

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bkay2000

15 years ago

I called the extension service as I couldn't seem to solve the problem of what was eating my hosta. Anything I put on my hosta got washed off when I water, which is most every day. The guy there suggested I use a systemic insecticide. I bought Bonide Systemic granules insect control. I also put out diatomaceous earth and a powdered bacillis thurengensis. If it was cut worms, the BT should kill it. If it was the pill/sow bugs, the DE should kill them, then the systemic should take up the fight. It takes a week to 10 days for the systemic to get into the plant. What worked, I'm not sure. However, one of the things worked or maybe a combination of all three. The BT and DE are both considered organic pest control methods. You just have to wear a mask when applying the DE, as you shouldn't get it in your lungs. Once it's down, it's not a problem. It has microscopic sharp edges and cuts the shells of hard shell insects and they dry out and die. It has to be re-applied occasionally.

The systemic doesn't say anything about being effective against slugs. (I grow mostly in pots, so don't have much problem with them.) Also, my insect problem is in my front yard, so my dogs aren't going to get into the insecticide. DE and BT won't hurt them after it's on the ground.
bkay

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Comments (8)

hosta_freak
15 years ago
Can't tell you what the secret is,Sassy,but I have never had a serious slug problem here,and I don't even use Sluggo. This year,even though we have had a lot of rain,there are very few slugs. I guess the rain drowned them! I hope you find the answer,soon. Phil
Janice
15 years ago
I've used 'Bonide Slug Magic', occasionally, but mostly I try to plant only 'slug-resistant' plants!
The slugs do love my 'Creeping Jenny' at times so I know they're out there, but they do tend to
leave the thick leaved hosta alone, at least in my garden!

What I DO HAVE are the pill/sow bugs!! GRRRRR!
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gabbygardner
15 years ago
I don't have a fancy answer either, but I can tell you this is the first year I have not had swiss cheese for hosta and many other plants from the torrential slug infestation that I thought would never be cured. However, when someone told me to stop watering at dusk and start watering at dawn the problem almost went completely away. I have not seen one hole in about 35 hosta I have in my yard.

Each year my husband teased me as I went outside armed with my ammonia water to take on the slugs, not that it ever worked. I swear I would kill hundreds a night, and the next night they were all over again.

So, good luck and maybe change up your watering schedule:)

Gabby
beizebopp
11 years ago
To those using slug poison; the slugs crawl away 'sluggishly' and the birds easily pick them off.
The slug poison is now bird poison in the form of poisonous slugs.
Most poisons move up the food chain.
Mulch is the best remedy imo. The slugs don't like scratchy stuff like bark and course straw.
Indian runner ducks can be trained to eat only slugs.
HU-721972221
6 years ago
Did the Neem oil ever kill or damage your hostas
HU-721972221
6 years ago
Did the Neem oil kill or damage your hostas sassy7142?
djacob Z6a SE WI
6 years ago
The recipe is supposedly 9 parts water to one of ammonia or vinegar. Since math was never my forte, I make it easy———gallon container 64 Oz. I add about a cup, 8 Oz ......over kill, I know but I really hate slugs and cutworms!!!!! Grrrrrr!!