I have a secret.
I have always been fond of slugs. As a child I would spend hours collecting and gathering them, large and small, on a rotten piece of tree bark. Only to be met with my sisters squeals of glee as she ran after us armed with a saltshaker to assault my new friends and my sense of decent humanity. As I have gained age and wisdom my fondness for slugs has not waned. I cringe every time I am in the presence of a product professing how it will “maim, kill and eradicate these pests” from your garden. Really? This is what we as gardeners, stewards of our land consider a humane and decent approach to keeping our sites healthy and pest free? I am disheartened by it all.
The label on these anti slug products do not mention the anguish these tiny souls must endure to meet an untimely end simply because they were following natures direction. The label will also neglect to identify all the other innocent souls who may be harmed or killed because the slug they had for breakfast was not wearing a warning vest or ingredient label to dictate what harmful chemicals it had previously consumed. Yes, there are “safe” products on the market that will only harm slugs – again I must ask, why? I understand you did not grow your prized hosta to become a slug banquet. The answer is not always found in do or die. Did you know – the slugs you kill will rot, promoting more slugs as they are attracted to carrion and are great decomposers. If you find you are over run with slugs this is an indicator that your ecosystem is off balance. Create balance in your ecosystem and you deal with your slug population in the most environmentally friendly way.
If you are really mad at all slugs and want an overnight solution – simply apply a nice border of vermiculite around your prized plants. The slugs will not cross it as it may cut their delicate bodies.
And everyone gardened happily ever after.
click the photo to follow an amazon link to the product
*Article written by Michelle Riley Horticulturist – as seen in the Joy of Medina County Magazine – Dig It garden column
