Battling Slugs on Hostas
Hostas are one of the most maintenance-free perennials you can grow. But they do have one nemesis -- Slugs! They love hostas and can be a problem over the entire season if the slug problem is left unresolved.
The Damage Slugs Do to Hostas
Slug damage to hostas appears as multiple holes chewed through the hosta leaves. The most damage will be done to varieties with thinner leaves or hostas that are variegated.
Your first line of defense is knowing about slugs.
Besides being darn ugly and slimy, slugs look like snails without the shells. They love to prey on hosta leaves causing holes in their leaves. If not battled early, they can ruin the look of the hostas for a season.
Why are slugs drawn to hostas?
Simply they like the same environment that hostas do; moist areas, preferably with plenty of decomposing organic matter.
Further Reading: Using Epsom Salt on Hostas!
When are slugs active?
They come out when it's cool and dark; the wetter the ground stays, the more the slugs populate it. They can also be spotted on cool, cloudy days.
Now the good part ...
How to get rid of them!
Chemical Products
There are many chemical products on the market that will kill slugs including Sluggo or Ortho Slug and Snail Killer. I have found that they do work.
Non-Chemical Approaches
If you want a non-chemical way of getting rid of the little buggers, here are some suggestions that work well.
Change Their Environment
You want to make it less inviting for those slug families. There are several ways you can do this.
- They love the moist ground, so replace the old mulch that no longer drains well to a fresh mulch which will dry out faster. This will make it less hospitable to slugs.
- Slugs are soft-bellied creatures. To make it more difficult for the slug to travel hosta to hosta, you can put a rough-edged material like lava rocks around the hosta that they don't want to crawl over. Any coarse material like crushed eggshells will do.
- Place an Epsom Salt ring around the hosta. Slugs won't go near that. Epsom salt is also a good source of magnesium for hostas.
- Copper Strips. These are adhesive strips that form a barrier around pots or raised beds. When the slimy slug tries to cross the barrier, it is deterred with a small electric shock.

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