We've had a lot of rain here the past four days and I notice my back yard is moving. Tons of slugs, which I know come out when it's wet... Searching on 'slugs' here, I found great stories of beer parties, slug bars, and ad posters hung in the garden, slug sushi (with Japanese Beetle sauce?), slug snipping, and slug housing complexes!

In our house slug=snug (makes me feel less guilt when I kill 'em).

I tried the beer thing. Something else likes it, leaving none for the snugs.
Coffee Grounds? Don't have them available every day, unless I hit up Starbucks or Dunkin'. Same with egg shells.
Copper wire? I'll trip before any snug trips.
Oat bran? Images of snugs exploding right and left fill my head

I began my snug-fest by using chopsticks and dumping snugs in a salt-filled tray. Someone mentioned that salt kills plants. I read this after I dumped salt on free-range snugs But it was on crab grass I can afford to lose. I'm protecting my melon patch, toward which the snug army is marching. The largest watermelon is named Sean. I must save him at all costs.

Maybe when the sun comes out, the snugs will retreat and give me some peace. Otherwise, my full-time hobby will be murderess of Japanese Beetles by soap and snugs by salt.

Is there an easier, organic way to fend off snugs where I don't have to be present?

Tomacco

Slug control

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Well, here's an interesting thing. I now have a pet toad named Stone. He lives under a grass mat I have hanging over my deck railing. Not even 2" long, he's been put out in the garden yet makes his way back to the railing every time. Last night I couldn't find him, panicked with every step I took for fear of a walk-by squishing, yet lo & behold, he was back this morning. I guess he was "out & about."

So I looked up toad food which includes bugs, worms and slugs(!). I have no slugs to give him; I killed them all. Right now, he has a medium-size worm he's using as a head rest, but there seems no joy in eating it. Think I ought to keep him inside for Winter for slug control in Spring?

Tomacco

What kind of toad is this?

different view here: http://snipurl.com/vqkt

Hi Tomacco

Interesting talk about slugs. I think that's what is getting to many plants in my front and back courtyard. I need to research "slugs" on our site as well. I would prefer to not use chemicals if I can help it. I had heard about the beer thing, but geez, wasting all that beer!

I have lots of coffee grinds. Should I sprinkle along side of my gardens? Many of my plants are potted. What then?

P. S. Your little toad, Stone, is so cute! I sure hope he returns. I recently saw a toad in the front and we've got tree frogs around here!
I have a pic somewhere. I'll have to dig it up and post it for ya'll.

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floweringchild , I'll let you know if sprinkling coffee grounds (as an alternate to weezie's suggestion of Diatomaceous Earth *DE*) works around the newly planted mums. As soon as I whacked last year's mums back on 4 July, I had nothing but skelibobs the very next morning.

Would love to see your frog

I would imagine for potted plants that coffee grounds would deter snugs just the same. Now that I think about it, DE in the ground soil to slice & dice snugs would probably slice & dice my hands, as I don't wear gloves. However, in a pot, you could simply move the DE out of the way with a spoon and save them (in the case of repotting).

Weezie, I'm sad that Stone is a no-show My other half would ask if Stone is home, I'd say "not yet" as casually as if the dog were still outside... Frowns all around... Methinks he didn't appreciate being exhibited to visitors. Stone is/was a Gray Tree Frog (the description & habits fit):
http://snipurl.com/w019
http://snipurl.com/hy1b <--pic

If Stone were a she, perhaps she is down at the brook laying her eggs... I'll post a few more pics in the album today. The wormy one is worth a million$ LOL!

edit: pics posted

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Tomacco

That coffee was so strong, it swallowed the cream...
http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l268/Tomacco1/

Hi tomacco

As promised, a pic of my froggie!



Actually, he/she is a greenhouse frog. I took this pic last year so I doubt he's still around. I do hear them at night though so there may be decendants.

Had tried egg shells sometime back. I now have more potted plants, so I don't think the egg shell thing will help out.

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floweringchild, too cute and happy! Thanks for posting the pic. I had a ball sprinkling spent grounds yesterday. Even though my hand was filthy, everyone is enjoying the coffee smell in the garden.

cinta, if it deters not one snug, at least I am amending the soil, which is sorely needed in some places, and the worms are having a field day

Tomacco

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Tomacco

That coffee was so strong, it swallowed the cream...
http://s98.photobucket.com/albums/l268/Tomacco1/