Slugs in the house: How to stop slugs and snails getting in

It’s one thing trying to control slugs in the garden, but how do we get rid of slugs in the house? And how can we stop them coming indoors in the first place? You can tell when a slug or snail has been inside your house if you find their wet, slimy trails across your floors or surfaces. Slugs don’t have any bones so they are able to slip through very small holes.

We asked Hayley Jones, entomologist at the RHS, to share her tips on how to stop slugs getting in the house and her natural pest control methods. It’s important to remember that the sale of slug pellets is now banned in the UK.

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Which slugs are likely to come inside the house?

“The slug that is usually the culprit in indoor sightings is the yellow cellar slug ‘Limacus flavus’, which is a medium sized slug (up to 13cm long), slender with pale mottling on a yellow, green or tan body,” says Hayley.

Why do slugs come indoors? What are they attracted to?

Slugs will usually come inside the house for warmth, food or shade. Knowing what attracts them could help keep them at bay. “The yellow cellar slug mostly eats mould and algae but can also be found eating leftovers, pet food and compost,” says Hayley.

“It is attracted to dark, damp refuges such as vents and drains. It is strictly nocturnal, which is why only the mucous trails are seen in unexpected indoor places, the slug having already retreated by the morning.”

How to get rid of slugs in the house

If you find a slimy slug trail, use a torch to highlight the path and track it back to its entrance point into the house.

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For external doors, block gaps with a draught excluder.

For larger gaps and cracks, block with a more permanent filler. See products below.

Hayley highlights that “stopping slugs coming inside can be a bit tricky. The obvious solution is to block up the route, but if that is an old fashioned vent or something like that it may not be possible.”

How to get rid of slugs in the house

1. Copper tapeCopper tape is a well-known way to protect plants and pots from slugs and snails in the garden, but it can also be used indoors. The texture of the tape creates a small charge when the slugs touch it. It doesn’t harm them but it does deter them.

2. Salt If you have found a slug trail in your kitchen or bathroom, trace it back to the entry point and fill it with salt to deter the slugs coming through the hole again.

“Salt can be a very good barrier,” says Hayley. “But this will only be worth it if you can create the barrier somewhere dry, otherwise it will wash away quickly and may make the soil in the nearby area, or the surface, too salty.”

3. Ducks and slug predators in the garden“A great thing to think about is how you can make your garden more welcoming to the natural predators of slugs and snails,” Hayley explains. “Provide food and water for birds, and install a ‘hedgehog highway’ hole if you don’t have one already. A pond is a great wildlife-friendly addition to a garden, and will attract frogs and toads that will help keep your slug numbers down.”

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Ducks also predate slugs – although they will eat your lettuce seedlings too, so keep them protected until the plants have matured.

4. Slug trapSlug traps often lure in the animal using beer or a sugary liquid. Once inside, they find it hard to navigate their way back out. You can also make your own beer trap by filling a container with a little beer and leaving it near a problem area. You cannot guarantee that slugs will survive if using a homemade trap.

5. Wool pelletsWool pellets deter slugs with their texture. They can also be used to block entry points into the house. Wool is a natural material so is not harmful and it breaks down naturally.

6. Natural barriersCreate a natural barrier using egg shells or garden cuttings; they don’t like the feeling on their body so will avoid crawling over.

7. Plant slug repelling plants Astrantia gives off a scent that repels slugs and snails and so acts as a natural pesticide. Wormwood, rue, fennel, anise and rosemary all have the same effect.

8. Put up bird feedersEncouraging birds into your garden who prey on slugs is a great natural repellent. It will improve the biodiversity of your garden as well as making it less likely slugs will enter your home. Here’s our selection of nine squirrel-proof bird feeders for your garden.

9. Reseal windows and doorsSurvey the windows and doors in your house and reseal any areas that may have become loose. Seal these gaps to prevent further slugs from entering.

Source: https://gardencourte.com
Categories: Kitchens