Hostas are beautiful foliage plants, but slugs love munching on their lush leaves. If you’ve dealt with holes in your hosta leaves, you know how frustrating slug damage can be. While there are chemical slug killers available, organic approaches are safer for pets, wildlife, and the environment. Read on to learn effective natural remedies for protecting hostas from slugs.
Make a Garlic Spray
One of the most popular home remedies for deterring slugs is a garlic spray The strong odor of garlic repels slugs without harming your plants
To make a garlic spray
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Crush several garlic cloves and soak in 2 cups of water overnight. Strain out the garlic pieces.
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Add 2 teaspoons mild soap like castile soap to help the spray stick to leaves.
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Pour the garlic water into a spray bottle.
Spray this garlic solution directly onto hosta leaves, especially along the edges and undersides where slugs like to feed. Reapply after rain. The garlic smell fades quickly so repeat applications are needed, but this spray is very safe for kids and pets.
Use Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth (DE) is a powder made from fossilized algae that cuts and dehydrates soft-bodied insects. DE is non-toxic to people and pets, but spiders and beneficial insects can also be affected.
To use DE for slugs on hostas:
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Apply a band of DE around the base of hosta clumps. Slugs crossing over the powder will get cut and dry out.
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Dust a thin layer of DE on the soil around your hostas. This creates an abrasive surface that deters slug movement.
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Wear a mask when spreading DE to avoid inhaling it. Reapply DE after rain or watering.
Salt Spray
Table salt is abrasive to slugs and snails. A salt spray can burn their soft bodies, causing them to avoid treated plants.
Make a salt spray by mixing 1 part salt with 5 parts water. Add a squirt of dish soap so the spray sticks to foliage. Avoid spraying the salt solution on hosta crowns to prevent soil contamination. Focus on spraying leaves, especially along the edges. Reapply the salt spray after heavy rain.
Set Beer Traps
Slugs are attracted to the yeasty smell of beer. Set beer traps by filling jar lids or other shallow containers with cheap beer. Sink the traps at soil level near susceptible hostas. Slugs crawl in for the beer and drown.
Replace traps frequently as they fill up with dead slugs. This method removes slugs from the garden rather than just deterring them.
Attract Natural Predators
Encourage slug predators like garter snakes, frogs, toads, birds, and beetles by providing habitat for them. Leave areas of leaf litter and avoid pesticide use so these beneficial animals thrive. You can also purchase predator insects like decollate snails and ground beetles that specifically target slugs and snails.
Handpick at Night
One of the most effective organic controls is good old handpicking. Go out at night with a flashlight and pick slugs and egg masses off hostas. Drop them into jars of soapy water to kill them. Their slime trails will guide you right to them.
Be diligent about handpicking whenever you see new slug damage. Removing them manually protects your hostas without any sprays or chemicals.
Mulch Well
Proper mulching can form a barrier to keep slugs away from hosta leaves. Use coarse, abrasive mulches like pine needles, crushed eggshells, lava rock, or sharp aquarium gravel. Smooth bark mulches are less effective. Renew mulch annually, as slugs will penetrate deteriorating layers.
Slug damage on hostas is extremely frustrating, but there are many organic remedies to protect your plants. Garlic spray, diatomaceous earth, traps, and handpicking are all highly effective and safe solutions. Be vigilant at the first signs of slug feeding and take control with consistent organic treatments. Your beautiful hosta collection will thank you.
3 Ways To Protect Your Hosta From Slugs And Snails
FAQ
How do I stop slugs from eating my hostas?
What can I put on my hostas to keep the bugs from eating them?
How do you protect hostas from slugs?
Use Copper Barriers Copper is an element with anti-microbial and anti-slug properties, so you can place copper barriers such as copper wire, copper tape, and other products around the hostas. Concentrate more on the base of the plants and other parts that reach the ground because slugs attack hostas from below.
How do you get rid of slugs in a garden?
Copper is an element with anti-microbial and anti-slug properties, so you can place copper barriers such as copper wire, copper tape, and other products around the hostas. Concentrate more on the base of the plants and other parts that reach the ground because slugs attack hostas from below. Is your garden free from slugs?
How do you stop slugs from chewing Hosta leaves?
Scatter a slug bait with iron oxide, like Sluggo, around each hosta. Check back every two weeks or after big rains, and replace the bait if it’s gone. It may take several of these tactics to stop slugs from chewing holes in hosta leaves.
How do I stop pests from destroying my hostas?
You can stop pests from destroying your hostas if you identify the culprits. In slugs, the most common indication is tiny holes in the hostas’ foliage, especially on the leaves. The holes that slugs leave have irregular shapes and vary from small to large. A large slug population can cause considerable damage to your hostas.
Can slugs eat Hosta leaves?
Sow some salad stuff for the slugs to eat, instead of the slugs eating your valuable Hosta leaves. Hostas grown in pots and containers. Use sharp horticultural grit on the surface of the pots. Maybe crushed eggshells instead (or as well). Copper band. placed around the pot. Does it work??? Maybe sometimes.
How do you identify slugs on hostas?
Identifying slugs on hostas can be a tricky task. Slugs are small, slimy mollusks that feed off the foliage of hostas and other garden plants. While they may not seem like a threat to your garden, their damage can make for an unsightly mess. The tell-tale slime trails and holes in the hosta leaves are the most common signs of slug damage.