Best sprinkler system to avoid slugs? Is there a connection between the two?

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BuddyandWinnie Missoula, MT Mar 27, 2023

Hello!
I lovingly planted and cared for at least 100 Foxglove seeds a few years ago and last year they grew so tall and bloomed in all their majestic glory. Then came the slugs. The plant leaves were completely demolished. They were getting watered from spraying heads and I'm wondering if soaker hoses would attract fewer slugs, maybe creating less moisture in the air??? I was so heartbroken at the time that I eventually pulled them all out feeling sure that I wouldn't be able to solve the problem. And now of course I regret having done this! But I want to try again armed with more information for success. Any thoughts or advice would be hugely appreciated!!

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ZilyZily Castro Valley, CA Mar 27, 2023

Not sure that would help. They are probably living in the leaves and they will eat them dry or wet. Though the way I dealt with them was to water well late in the day and then go out at midnight and hand collect them when they would crawl to the top of the leaves and eat. I would catch the snails like that too. But it was a constant activity to keep the numbers down. But I enjoyed being out in the garden so late at night when all was so quiet, so I looked forward to it. Plus I had a ton of brugmansias which smell so good at night.

Perhaps if you only watered early in the day so the leaves would be dryer at night. Though often leaves here can get wet just from dew.

I have heard many people spread diatomaceous earth around their plants which cut on their soft bodies. Though once they start reproducing, the leaves are baby factories and they pretty much stay on the plant till they have eaten it all.

I also heard, do not know if true, that the Diatomaceous Earth is very fine and easily breathed in. I would always be kneeling on my ground doing whatever, disturbing my soil so I felt no doubt I would be breathing in the particles left at some point so I never used it.

Then of course is the store bought snail bait that kills them dead by dehydration. Correys comes to mind.

Google ways to kill snails and slugs and tons of solutions will appear.

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BuddyandWinnie Missoula, MT Mar 28, 2023

Wow, thank you for sharing your experience with me. I've used both Sluggo and Diotomaceous Earth in the past but nothing touched the ongoing everywhere-ness of the slugs!! I'll keep researching. Thanks for your encouragement.

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