I Hate Slugs!

We have had a wet early summer, receiving few bright, DRY, sunny days, which has resulted in an astromonical number of slugs devouring my plants.  I usually don’t spend a lot of money on annuals, chosing instead to divide perennials and maybe add a few new ones, but this year I spent quite of bit on impatients, marigolds, snapdragons and zinnias.  The zinnias were the first to be stripped of their leaves, then the marigolds and zinnias disappeared almost overnight. As soon as I realized the culprit was slugs, I armed myself and declared war.

My weapon of choice is salt.  Because slugs are mostly water, an ample sprinkle of salt turns them to gel in a matter of seconds.  I go out several times a day to wage my attacks, often arming my 3-year old granddaughter with a salt shaker as well.  In one trip around my yard I can easily find and destroy fifty or more slugs, and I do this at least three times a day.

Yet I still have not gained the upper hand in this all out war. I found one this morning in the middle of my deck, which is wooden and five feet in the air. I hate to admit that they have the power to bring out this rage in me, yet I am unable to get past the idea of all the money and work I spent putting in annuals only for them to eat them.  I am not waving the white flag; I will continue my attacks, lest they take over my house! So far, they haven’t found the plethora of house plants I have (sh-h!)

I can say with certainty that I will not invest a lot of money in annuals next year, unless it is to make colorful planters that hang. I will spend the money on more salt.