We and our advertising partners use cookies on this site. Please see our Terms of Use for further details.

Garden.Help Logo Graphic

About Us | Terms of Use

Diagnose plant problems and treat garden pests

Gardening News

General Help

Specialists

Have a go...

Win and Save

Interactive Tools

Plant Doctor


More...

Home / Projects /

How to control slugs


Difficulty: 1 / 5

You will need: Wool pellets, Scoop

Slugs are the top problem in most gardens and it is always difficult to stay ahead of their attacks. Certain plants, like Hostas, are always a preferred target so, if you are going to protect anything, start with them. A barrier of gravel, crushed eggshells or, as here, wool pellets, around the plant acts as a good deterrent.

Best time to do it:

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

Step One:

Apply the wool pellets in a complete circle around the plant to be protected. These pellets are natural and harmless to pets and children.

Step 1 of How to control slugs

Step Two:

Water them well, as they have been compressed.

Step 2 of How to control slugs

Step Three:

The fibres fluff up and expand to create a collar.

Step 3 of How to control slugs

Step Four:

Any slug that tries to cross the barrier gets caught on the millions of tiny hooks on the wool fibres. It can be removed by hand or left for the birds to take.

Step 4 of How to control slugs

Related FAQs


Ask a gardening question:


Looking for more garden ideas for this month? Try another project or watch a gardening video for some more inspiration.

Latest Gardening News



Gardening Projects for June


Learn about How to Care for Early-Flowering Clematis
Learn about  How to turf a lawn
How to turf a lawn

Difficulty: 3 / 5

Learn about How to care for Camellias
Learn about How to repair a lawn - Patches
How to care for Camellias

Difficulty: 2 / 5

How to repair a lawn - Patches

Difficulty: 2 / 5

Gardening Ideas


Plant Specialists

Diagnose orchid plant problems and improve orchid care
Orchid Doctor
Diagnose fruit plant pests and fruit plant problems
Soft Fruit Doctor
Do a soil test to find out your soil type
Soil Doctor
Diagnose pest and disease problems with fruit trees and bushes.
Top Fruit Doctor


Gardening Tools

Learn which plant pests attack which types of fruit.
Fruit Pests
Learn when and how to prune different types of plants
Pruning Guide
Learn which plants will grow in your soil
Soil pH Guide
Learn when and how to plant different vegetable seeds
Vegetable Planting Guide