Stop Slugs This Summer with One Simple Spring Trick

Written by Josefine Bagger Sommerlund

Mar.26 - 2025 12:19 PM CET

Tired of slimy slugs ruining your garden? Get ahead of the problem this spring with one smart move.

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Start early and keep your garden slug-free all summer.

A few simple steps in spring can protect your plants from the destructive Spanish slug.

The Slug Problem Starts Earlier Than You Think

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Even though slug damage peaks in summer, the real problem begins in April and May.

That’s when the first slugs and their eggs start to emerge – and that’s your chance to act.

Catch Them Before They Multiply

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Just one slug can lay up to 400 eggs. If you take them out early in the season, you can stop a full-blown invasion before it begins.

Make Your Own Slug Traps

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Use damp wooden boards, newspapers, old rugs, or upside-down flower pots in your garden.

Slugs love dark, moist hiding spots – check your traps in the morning and remove any slugs you find.

How to Get Rid of the Slugs

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Check traps daily. Kill slugs by pouring boiling water over them or freezing them. If you prefer a gentler method, relocate them far from your garden.

Tidy Up Your Garden – Remove Hiding Spots

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Slugs thrive in clutter.

Clear away dead leaves, old plant stems, pots, and anything else that offers cover and moisture.

Be extra thorough with the compost pile – it’s a slug hotspot.

Protect Plants with Natural Barriers

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Surround plants with coffee grounds, crushed eggshells, sand, or gravel.

These rough materials make it hard and unpleasant for slugs to crawl across.

Be Smart with Beer Traps

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Beer traps attract slugs – sometimes from your neighbor’s yard too.

If you use them, place them at the edges of your garden to avoid drawing more in than you remove.

Early Action = Slug-Free Summer

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April and May are key months.

The earlier you start, the better your chances.

Fighting off a handful of slugs now is way easier than dealing with hundreds in July.

Get Started Now – Your Garden Will Thank You

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Grab your gloves, set the traps, and stay alert.

A little effort in spring can save your plants – and your patience – all summer long.