How to Make a Homemade Slug Trap

??Slugs and their slimy trails can be a real nuisance in the garden. They can cause significant damage to your vegetable plants and leave your garden beds unsightly. Some suggestions to deter garden slugs (such as diatomaceous earth, epsom salt, or lethal slug pellets) may work, but they can also hurt slug predators, earthworms, and pollinating insects. A homemade slug trap is our favorite, effective way to manage slug activity to protect your tender plants.

You'll Need

• A shallow container (like a yogurt or cottage cheese tub)

• Beer (non-alcoholic beer will work, plus, in Step 2 we're sharing a tip for using plain yeast)

• A small piece of wood or a stone

• A trowel

Manage Your Slug Population in 5 Steps

Step 1. Prepare the Trap

Clean your shallow container thoroughly. This container will act as the trap for the slugs.

Step 2. Create the Attractant

• Fill the container about halfway with beer (at least a couple of inches).

• Optional: If you don't have beer, you can dissolve 1/2 teaspoon dry yeast with 1 teaspoon white sugar into 1 cup of warm water and pour this into the trap instead.

Step 3. Set Up the Trap

• Choose a spot in your garden where slug damage is most evident and then place the trap a few feet away. This should direct slugs away from the damaged plant to begin with.

• Dig a small hole in the soil and place the container so that the rim is just above soil level (about 1 inch). This lets slugs crawl up and in but should keep beneficial insects from getting into the slug beer trap.

Step 4. Add Shelter

Place a small piece of wood or a stone partially over the container. This provides a bit of shade and shelter, making the trap more attractive to slugs.

Step 5. Monitor and Maintain

Check the trap containers daily. Dispose of any dead slugs and replace with fresh beer or yeast solution every few days to keep it effective.

Which Garden Plants Are Most Susceptible to Slug Damage?

Slugs particularly love tender, leafy plants. Some of their favorites include:

• Lettuce

• Hostas

• Strawberries

• Spinach

• Basil

• Marigolds

Related: How Big Do Zucchini Plants Get? Make the Most of Your Garden

Can You Trap Slugs Without Killing Them?

As destructive as they can be, slugs are an important part of the ecosystem, breaking down decaying materials and acting as food sources for other bugs and birds. If you prefer to trap and relocate your garden's battalion of slugs, you can modify the trap to capture these ground boogers without killing them. Here’s how:

• Use the same shallow container and attractant (beer or yeast solution).

• Place the container on the ground, but instead of filling it full with liquid, use a small amount in the bottom of the container, and float a piece of lettuce or cucumber on top.

• Cover the container with a loose lid, leaving enough space for slugs to enter.

• You'll need to check the trap daily to relocate the captured slugs far from your garden. If you don't, they will just eat the snack and head right back to your hostas plants!

Related: How to Protect Trees from Invasive Species of Insects