Physical Slug Barriers

An effective way of keeping slugs and snails away from a favourite plant is to use a physical barrier. This can be applied around beds or individual plants but they work best in greenhouses or under cloches. Any slugs and snails already within the perimeter of the barrier will obviously need to be removed before it becomes effective. Also remember that slugs and snails can crawl up a neighbouring unprotected plant and cross over above the barrier if the leaves are above or touching:

Place dry soot mixed with sharp cinders, fresh dry ashes, fresh dry lime or dry ground chalk around the plant. This is only effective in dry weather and will require renewing after rain or heavy dewfalls.

The following can also be used in the same way:-

Sharp sand or grit .Stays as effective in rainfall.

Crushed egg shells or calcified seaweed..

Holly leaves or thorny rose clippings are said to work as a barrier but I have known slugs to actually eat these.

Pine needles used as a mulch are said to deter slugs and snails from around strawberry plants.

Chopped hair,( including human) hair.

Cotton wool tied around individual stems.

Dry straw, saw dust, shredded bark.

Oak leaves - it is said that they dislike the tannin.

Pine bark chips or black peat.Cocoa shell mulch - effective but expensive.

Aromatic herbal mulch: mint, tansy, lemon balm etc. frequently replaced.

Diatomite (microscopic sea floor algae with siliceous covering). (Sometimes used in Catlitter.)

Try putting down fresh green leaves such as lettuce to deter them from eating the plant you want to keep..

An unbroken smear of Vaseline or grease - effective around the rim of flower pots or containers.

Water or spray weak beer onto adjacent weeds, so slugs eat them, not your prize plants.

Large clear soda or water bottles, with the bottom cut off can be used as a cloche or, cut the top off as well and it can be used as a collar. Try putting petroleum jelly or grease around the top edge to stop them climbing over.

Unwashed waxed milk cartons, without top or bottom, used as a collar. Slugs eat the milk & wax first.

Thin metal edging, the upper edge bent outward & slightly down. It is said that snails can't cross it.

Wide copper bands around beds, copper foil around plant pots or containers, Can be reused. Metals including iron & aluminium are also said to be toxic to slugs.