Homemade slug pellet holder

8 years ago

After reading a recent thread where some forum members have made their own slug pellet holders, I asked my husband whether we had any material that we could use to make one. So he suggested using pieces of a broken outdoor light fixture. He also used part of a tea strainer, and I supplied a glass top. He is still looking for something to secure the top with other than what had originally come with the outdoor lamp. What do you think?

I would love to have your slug pellet holder ideas presented in this thread. That way others could easily find this information when searching in the near future.

Featured Answer

tsbccowboy

8 years ago

Newhostalady, slugs can easily get under a clay saucer.

I put Sluggo into small bottle-caps and cover them with a clay saucer. Small animals can get the clay saucer off and get to the Sluggo. To prevent this from happening, a wire basket is placed over the saucer and is staked down with plant marker stakes. The wire basket has prevented any small animal getting to the slug bait. The Sluggo still gets damp under the clay saucer but I think it lasts longer being covered by the clay saucer.

First photo, I'm lifting the clay saucer off of the bottle-cap. One slug is having lunch.

The bottom, right side of this photo shows the clay saucer covered by the wire basket.

Slug Cafes

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Comments (7)

windymess z6a KC, Ks
8 years ago
Nice. But why not just sprinkle it on the ground? Pet concerns?
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked windymess z6a KC, Ks
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
8 years ago
I don't have pets to worry about, but I feed the birds which attracts a number of animals to come to my garden during the day and night. I don't want to be responsible for poisoning them. In a recent thread, I think it was Esther who said the squirrels were eating her slug bait like crazy. That got me thinking. The slug bait can't work if it's not there!

I find the weather becoming more and more erratic also. This spring we received a lot of rain. With all that moisture, the pellets disintegrate or are washed away.

And then there's the wind! I have a lot of pots in all sizes. When my 10 inch clay pot tips over because of the wind, well that's quite a strong gust. Where the heck have my pellets gone then?

So with the discussion on the recent thread, it got me thinking that slug holders are actually a very good idea. And the inventors of the Slug Bell have produced a very useful and attractive product! http://www.slugbell.com/
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popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
8 years ago
The slug bell is cute. Too bad they probably don't sell those here in the U.S. Do the slugs really climb that high up to get a pellet when the leaves of the hosta are right within their reach?
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked popmama (Colorado, USDA z5)
lindalana 5b Chicago
8 years ago
Looking good! Am interested in making few hiding spots too as I have pets. I was using overturned pot saucers.
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada thanked lindalana 5b Chicago
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
8 years ago
That's a good point popmama. But then, why would a slug climb a plant stand to get to a hosta when there are other hosta planted directly in the soil?

I think after a rain slugs get around everywhere! I have found them on the blades of grass in my garden; on my ornamental grasses; on my deck and on top of the flower stalks! That one was a surprise! (I wasn't even looking way up there!)

I like the fact that the pellets are protected against the rain, my watering and the wind. I will have a look eventually and see whether the pellets are still there or not. I want to make the next one with the pellet holder closer to the soil.

Lindalana---do you think the slugs are able to get to your pellets by crawling under the saucer?
newhostalady Z6 ON, Canada
Original Author
8 years ago
That looks great tsbccowboy! I love it! Thanks for sharing. I notice that you have what looks like pine needles as a mulch. That may help to slightly lift the clay saucer off the ground. I don't use any mulch but certainly have small sticks which I might put under the rim of the saucer. Now I have to see if I actually have a small clay saucer. Hmmm. I suppose a small clay pot would also do the trick. Great idea to have the wire basket over the saucer and pellets! I'm going to try it!