We all know salt can be a helpful product when it comes to keeping slugs at bay. But did you know it can be a real problem for our soil and plants too? So, how can we use it in a way that’s kind to our gardens?
Ah, slugs. Every gardener’s nemesis! They show up as early as spring and stick around until late fall. While there are plenty of store-bought slug remedies, most of us prefer natural pest control. These methods often use simple, natural ingredients like salt or chalk.
The most voracious species of slug. The bane of gardeners
There are more than 140 species of land snails in Poland. Most of them feed on the remains of organic matter, fungi, algae and lichens, as well as plants. Slugs, also known as shellless snails, pose the greatest threat to crops.
You’ll encounter them wherever it’s dark and damp. They don’t like the sun or high temperatures. They lead a nocturnal lifestyle. During the day they hide in tall grasses, and at night they come out of their hiding places in search of food.
The garden is a veritable paradise for them. Pomeranians are fond of cultivated vegetables, including cabbage and lettuce. They feed on the fruit itself, as well as its leaves, shoots and roots. If not removed in time, they are capable of driving the plant to complete death.
How to get rid of slugs?
The appearance of slugs in the garden does not herald anything good. It is necessary to get rid of them as soon as possible. There are many ways to do this. In garden stores you will find products designed for slug control. Although they are effective, they can seriously harm plants. For this reason, we often opt for natural remedies against slugs , such as basalt meal, beer trap, eggshells or salt.
The latter method is becoming increasingly popular. It involves spreading rock salt around the plants under attack. In contact with the salt, some slugs die, while others protect themselves by producing more mucus. When using this patent, it is worth remembering that excess salt negatively affects plant growth. It worsens the condition of the soil and deprives it of valuable nutrients. In extreme cases, it can lead to the development of scab, a disease caused by Streptomyces bacteria.
A better and more effective solution is the aforementioned eggshells. Just dry them in the sun, crush them and scatter them around the plants. The shells will make it difficult for slugs to move around, which will discourage them from wandering further.
