I think the sluggo brand or the escar-go are brands safe for animals. Do a search here on sluggo or slugs and you will be reading for a week. Slugs and hostas go hand in hand. Try diotomaceous (sp) also, but I believe must be replenished after a rain. For prized hostas, wrap a copper ring around the hosta, it will act like a collar, or barrier, that the slugs won't cross.

anitamo is correct. Slug-go and Escar-go are pet safe (and effective) slug and snail deterrents.

there is a hosta forum .... the topic has been covered to death ... try the FAQ's and the SEARCH function ...

the above are still chemicals ...

a solution of 10% vinegar or ammonia in a hand pump tank.. sprayed into the interior of the plant... will kill slugs...

the problem i have with 'attractant' baits.. is the idea of attracting more slugs to your hosta.. doesn't make sense if you think about it too long ...

good luck

ken

I had a severe problem with slugs when I first started gardening. I was hand picking them at night. When I caught 100 in one night, I realized hand picking simply wasn't an option. Someone had recommended Escar-Go from Gardens Alive, and I've been using it ever since. It took care of my initial infestation, and I've only needed to use it 2 or 3 times a gardening season ever since. It's been about 3 or 4 years now. I stockpile it when I get a discount coupon (usually $25 off a $50 order, or $20 off $40) AND order through the Ebates link, where I get another 9% of my total order back ;)

I save my egg shells during the winter months, when hostas come in the spring, I sprinkle crushed egg shells around them and I haven't had a slug problem with the hostas since. I also sprinkle the shells around my Mickey Mouse elephant ears and the slugs haven't touched them since.
bonnie

I put a circle of pennies around my hostas. Slugs won't cross the copper and it's cheaper than buying tubing and making copper rings.

Lainey

I second the iron phosphate slug bait.....works like magic....and if you have as many hosta as I do, circling with pennies and hand picking just isn't practical.
And ken,....so acetic acid is not a "chemical"?
I was just out now tossing a few tablespoons of an iron phosphate bait around some of the hosta in the way back....took about 5 minutes....
Linda C

While taking a compost class, the horticultural specialist recommended coffee grounds but they have to be quite fresh. I have many hostas and I sprinkle the grounds and I also sprinkle a slug control granule from Lowe's that is safe for pets. Seems to keep them under control. The specialist said the slugs eat the grounds and it affects their digestive or heart system I forget and kills them. I use this method more because it is free. You can go to Star Bucks and ask for coffee grounds they offer grounds for garden.

anyone from sudbury ontario canada and wish to connect for gardening buddies? if so please email me at forgone_37@yahoo.com or satin_n_lace_fem@yahoo.ca
my name is Theresa happy gardening

Anyone have pictures of slug infested hostas?

I'm not totally new to gardening, but I am always trying new and cheap natural alternatives to well just about anything. I have a huge slug problem at my home, they are always in my basement and sidewalk. I was reluctant to plant hostas since I have a slug problem, but they were on sale and i couldn't resist. I planted my hostas, and had no money for mulch so I used sweet gum balls as much. Yes those pesky sweet gum balls. But much to my surprise its been 3 weeks and not one chewed leaf. The slugs will not go over the sweet gum balls, and i have a free alternative to mulch. And no more pesky sweet gum balls in the yard.

I have had good results spraying Hostas with cold, caffeinated, coffee.

kimmq is kimmsr

depending where you are ..... slug population ... is highly seasonal ...

in my MI ... many do not winter over ... and many laid eggs last fall ...

and not until july or august.. does the population explode.. to the point of seeing significant damage ...

obviously.;.. if you were in the pnw ... i am sure its a year around thing ...

ken

thanks for all the tips - hi from London UK, my Hostas had heaps of snails and slugs I was was just chucking away and the blue snail reppellent thingies I surrounded the Hostas with seems to have had little effect. So I have just put pennies all around the hostas, and as we drink loads of coffee if the pennies don't work will try some coffee grounds on them.