You need to do the work now, not next spring. Either get some slug killer pellets or make evening runs with vinegar or ammonia. Yes pull back some of the soil around the ones that are too deep. You can do a Google search for images of slug eggs to see if yours match .

-Babka

Thanks Babka! I just received my order of sluggo today. Stores were out of it so I hand to order online. I also read that Epsom salts work, but I am afraid that would kill the plant. What's your opinion on coffee grounds?

Epsom salts? What do you think magnesium will do to a slug? Give him the runs? Coffee grounds ...not. use the Sluggo as directed. :-)

-Babka

And make sure you protect the Sluggo pellets from being immediately scarfed up by squirrels and birds so that they are not available to do their work killing slugs. I made little cages of green vinyl clad hardware cloth with 1/2" openings and anchored them to the ground with 18" plant supports. I also put egg-sized and larger rocks around them, so that the nasty squirrels don't dig under the cages to get to the Sluggo.

Esther- Do people around you throw out bird seed during the day to train your birds? We have hundreds of tree squirrels and birds and they don't go after Sluggo when I sprinkle it here. Wet the area, then sprinkle it in late in the day. All the warnings tell you NOT to glop it in piles. A 1/2" opening in a cage would keep our 1" snails from getting to the bait, so what works for you may not work elsewhere. Guess it depends on your location and circumstances. Always best to follow directions on the package.

-Babka

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Haha! Babka---the Epsom salts supposedly have that coarse edge that the slugs don't like the person said, but I will stick to the sluggo and its directions.

Babka, I don't know about squirrels and other birds, but geese LOVE sluggo. They will gobble it all up, like it's some kind of treat. I am guessing squirrels and birds will do the same thing.

I think the key is how much you use. I was putting way too much down. Little piles made it easier for the geese to eat.....I think they are drawn to the smell.

Esther, try just sprinkling a little bit around each plant. It still does its job, and I haven't had as much of a problem with the geese. Sluggo is too expensive to feed the critters.

yes.. those were eggs ... they say 10% vinegar or ammonia drench work .. some peeps drench the whole crown.. late in the season after fall clean up ...

im not sure they didnt bloom.. for the reason you note ... need more facts ...

over all the years.. i heard them described many ways ... but not jewelry ... usually it involves cussing, cursing or swearing .... lol..

btw ... spent time release pellets.. can look about the same size.. but would be more white ... not as translucent.. more pearly looking.. lol ... you will have to figure out which you have ...

it really is a year around war.. if you want to contain the problem .... every one you kill now.. is 100 less you have next spring ....

ken

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=slug+eggs&t=ffcm&iax=1&ia=images

29th pic ....time release pellets ....

https://duckduckgo.com/?q=old+osmacote+pellets&t=ffcm&iar=images&iax=1&ia=images

if a smaller hosta has sunk a bit lower than i want,,,,i just go in with my shovel ,,,push forward a little and use my foot to stomp a little ground under to raise the hosta a little,,,less stress on the hosta,,,and me,,,,i think,,,

jill

You only need to put 3 or 4 pellets on the ground under the leaves of each hosta, out of sight. I think Jamie guessed right...too much and the critters think it is food.

-Babka

The squirrels and sparrows around here seem to materialize from nowhere as soon as I put out Sluggo. Normally it's widely scattered and not dense, but since I have to confine it to my little cages, it poured out a bit on the dense side from the container.