[net.garden] slugs, snails, etc.

8144ilr@houxz.UUCP (06/16/83)

I too have been experiencing awful slug
problems; maybe you can profit from my
solution.  First, if you water your garden,
do it during the day so the ground cover
dries out by nightfall.  I have also edged
the entire garden (and also circled some plants)
with diatomaceous earth (available from any
swimming pool supply house).  Slugs refuse
to crawl over the stuff, and it doesn't harm
the plants.
I have continued my nightly slughunt, but have
gone from spraying a 50:50 vinegar/water mixture
(which killed the slugs but burned the leaves),
to using ammonia and water which also does a
swell job of killing the slugs and adds nitrogen
to the plants.  Since I put down the diatomaceous
earth, my slug problem has almost completely abated.
Good luck.