Every gardener knows how unpleasant it is to find their favorite plants have been gnawed by slugs.
These little pests can destroy a significant portion of your crop in one night, leaving behind only slime and disappointment.
Why are there so many slugs on the site and how to deal with this scourge?
Slugs in the Garden: Where Do They Come From?
Slugs appear in the garden for several reasons. Firstly, they like damp and shady places where they can hide from the sun's rays.
Secondly, slugs actively reproduce in conditions of high humidity, especially after rain or excessive watering.
Organic matter and mulch create ideal conditions for their habitat, providing food and shelter.
Climate conditions and their impact on slugs
Weather conditions play a key role in the spread of slugs.
During rainy periods or in regions with high humidity, slugs reproduce especially quickly.
In such conditions, gardeners need to be especially careful and take preventive measures to protect their plants.
Slugs are active at night and in the early morning hours when humidity is highest.
Slugs and their harmful activities
Slugs feed on the soft tissues of plants, leaving characteristic marks and damage.
They prefer young shoots, leaves and fruits, causing irreparable damage to vegetables, flowers and other crops.
In addition to causing direct harm, slugs can carry various diseases, which makes them even more dangerous for the garden.
Effective ways to combat slugs
There are several methods you can use to control slugs.
Regularly removing weeds and plant debris reduces the number of hiding places for slugs.
It is also helpful to set beer traps or use barriers of ash, sand or gravel around plants.
Biological methods include attracting natural enemies of slugs such as hedgehogs, frogs and birds.
Chemicals should be used with caution so as not to harm other beneficial inhabitants of the garden.
Prevention of slugs
For prevention, it is important to follow a number of simple rules. Regular ventilation and pruning of plants reduces humidity and creates unfavorable conditions for slugs.
Mulching should be done carefully, avoiding creating an overly wet environment.
Watering should be done in the morning so that the soil has time to dry out before nightfall.
Previously, we told you how to stop aphids in just 12 hours.
