Help! Slugs are eating my strawberries! (growing, bugs, front yard, azaleas)

[KathrynAragon]

My strawberries are doing great, but the slugs are getting to them before I can. Any suggestions? The more natural, the better, since strawberries lay on the ground and are so succulent and ripen fast.

I really want to be able to eat some of these! They are delicious - but I only know this because I have some planted in a strawberry plant container (the terra cotta type with the holes in the sides that the plants hang out of) and so the slugs aren't getting to them.

[Grettastone]

Im looking for answers too.Those Rollie Pollies are eating ours.The strawberries are just beautiful and some very large,but those bugs are loveing them too!!!

[kygman]

My dad uses slug pellets you can buy at the store that work very good. Many people will tell you to pour some beer in a jar lid and put it near their trails. Seems like slugs are lushes and will go right to the beer, which will kill them.
Growing up we used to sit out on the steps at night with the salt shaker and put salt on them when we saw one. My friend used to be mean and just put a ring of salt around the slug and let him try to get out!

[in_newengland]

For slugs certain types of beer work. I tried several different kinds of beer until ONE worked and it got rid of the slugs. Maybe one brewed with more hops or something, I don't know, but that one final brand really worked. Maybe you have high class slugs who like imported beer??? Or maybe it was actually ale.

[Bulldogdad]

Originally Posted by in_newengland

For slugs certain types of beer work. I tried several different kinds of beer until ONE worked and it got rid of the slugs. Maybe one brewed with more hops or something, I don't know, but that one final brand really worked. Maybe you have high class slugs who like imported beer??? Or maybe it was actually ale.

That post is like never finding out who shot JR.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by Bulldogdad

That post is like never finding out who shot JR.

LOL. We may never know. I had something in my front yard that was getting eaten and there were slimy slug trails. Regular beer did not work. I kept at it. Every night a different beer or ale. Do they still make Coors? Because that is the one that got the slugs to climb into the saucer and die. Whatever it was in Coors beer, slugs loved it. Hope that helps

[kygman]

There is nothing worse than walking barefoot outside after dark and stepping on one of those slimy critters. Feels like it takes a week or more to get that slime off the bottom of your foot. lol

[TheDragonslayer]

I use used coffee grounds around my strawberries, snails and slugs don't like them and it acidifies the soil and provides a good source of nitrogen too. If you do not drink coffee, you can just buy the cheapest ground coffee and use it straight from the can, just sprinkle a ring of grounds around each plant. Or go to your local coffee shop and ask for the old grounds. Coffee grounds are good for azaleas and rhododendrons too, and blue berries.

[TinaMcG]

It's true, slugs and caffeine don't mix. Don't get decaffeinated coffee grounds!

[brokencrayola]

Originally Posted by TheDragonslayer

I use used coffee grounds around my strawberries, snails and slugs don't like them and it acidifies the soil and provides a good source of nitrogen too. If you do not drink coffee, you can just buy the cheapest ground coffee and use it straight from the can, just sprinkle a ring of grounds around each plant. Or go to your local coffee shop and ask for the old grounds. Coffee grounds are good for azaleas and rhododendrons too, and blue berries.

You can go to Starbucks and get their used grounds for free. It is good for the soil and helps with the slugs.