Why Are There So Many Slugs Around My Yard? (How to Control Them)

Slugs may seem kind of cute, but there’s nothing cute about the way they can damage your flowers and leafy greens. They’re quite small, but you wouldn’t be able to tell based on their appetite in the garden. So, why are there so many slugs around my yard?

Consistent moisture is the main reason why you likely have so many slugs around your yard. Slugs are drawn to dark, damp locations that are free of natural predators. You can keep them out of your yard if you clean your yard, remove hiding spots, and attract frogs and toads.

Frogs and toads eat slugs, so it won’t take long before they control the slug population. Follow along as we explore why there are so many slugs in your yard and highlight how to get rid of them.

Are Slugs Bad For Your Garden?

Slugs are bad for your garden, as they can chew through your plants and kill young seedlings. However, it’s more complicated than that, as slugs can benefit the soil in your garden and yard. That’s because they decompose plant matter and release the nutrients into the soil in your garden.

In that way, slugs are helpful in compost bins, but not so much in gardens and lawns. Many gardeners believe that the downsides of slugs outweigh the positives, and it's easy to understand why. Slugs reproduce quickly, and it won’t take long before the problem gets out of hand.

At that point, you’re probably more worried about the plant damage than you are excited about nutrients in the soil. Slugs also benefit other animals, because many animals eat slugs, but the plant damage isn’t worth it.

What Attracts Slugs To My Yard?

Cozy Darkness

Yes, even slugs like to get comfortable and cozy in dark environments. Slugs are nocturnal and feel most comfortable in dark, concealed locations.

This is partly because they can more easily protect themselves from predators in dark locations. It’s also because slugs are vulnerable to direct sunlight, as it can dry them out. Slugs struggle to retain body moisture during hot and sunny days, so they avoid sunlight at all costs.

Your yard will likely attract slugs if you have decorations and small structures with gaps beneath them. For example, you may find slugs hiding underneath garden benches, lawn decorations, and your deck. Just because they’re hidden doesn’t mean your plants are safe, however, as they’ll emerge at night.

Moisture

Slugs typically gravitate to damp environments, such as gardens and lawns with sprinkler systems. They especially love yards with poor soil drainage, as the soil stays damp longer. You may notice increased slug activity after it rains and when you run your sprinkler system.

It’s easier to control the slugs in your yard if you improve your watering habits. Overwatering can not only harm your plants, but it can also attract slugs. Carefully research each of your plants to figure out exactly how much water they need.

Avoid overwatering them to ensure you don’t create too damp an atmosphere. You may still find slugs, but appropriate watering practices can at least help control the population in your garden.

Consistent Food Sources

Your slug problem can quickly get out of hand if you grow lots of fruits and vegetables. Most organic matter that’s common in gardens can attract slugs, so compost bins can be problematic. Slugs can’t resist compost bins in many cases, as they’re dark, damp, and full of organic matter.

It’s important to pick up fallen fruit and vegetables in your garden, as slugs will stick around if that happens often. That’s a normal part of growing fruits and vegetables, but you must keep up with cleaning the ground. You must also regularly pick up after yourself when pruning your plants.

Don’t leave decomposing plant matter, fruit, and vegetables on your lawn. Otherwise, you’ll continually find slug trails all over your lawn and garden.

How To Keep Slugs Out Of Your Yard

1. Remove Hiding Spots

The easiest way to keep slugs out of your yard is to keep your lawn and garden clean. Regularly rake the leaves, remove dead grass, and get rid of plant trimmings. Slugs can hide beneath such debris and even use some of it as food sources. 

It’s also a good idea to move any decorations with gaps beneath them. That way, slugs won’t gravitate toward the shade beneath them. Do anything you can to reduce the shade in your garden, even if it means trimming plants and removing decorations.

2. Deter Them With Scents

You can deter almost any common garden pest with natural scents and store-bought ingredients. For example, you can scatter coffee grounds throughout your flower beds to prevent slugs from eating your plants. You can also plant lavender and marigolds to deter slugs, squash bugs, and other common garden pests.

Some people buy mint essential oil, dilute it with water, and spray it around their lawn and garden. The smell should be strong enough to keep slugs away from your garden. That said, you shouldn’t use peppermint oil if you have outdoor pets, as it can harm them.  

3. Attract Frogs And Toads

You may find frogs and toads off-putting, but they can help keep the garden pest population under control. Frogs and toads eat slugs, and you can easily attract them to your yard if they’re native to your area. Avoid using pesticides and other chemicals, as frogs and toads will steer clear of your yard if they detect them.

You can also attract frogs and toads if you set up some cozy logs and rock piles for them to hide under. That may also attract slugs, but the frogs should eat them as soon as they show up.

4. Use Diatomaceous Earth

Diatomaceous earth is the ultimate secret weapon you can use to deter slugs, ants, and many other pests. Made of fossilized diatoms, you can use diatomaceous earth to protect your yard from slugs. It appears as a white, powdery substance, which is easy to scatter.

Ideally, you should scatter diatomaceous earth in areas where you typically see the slugs are most active. It’s a good idea to focus on soil beds that typically stay damp, especially if leafy greens and decomposing organic matter are nearby.

5. Set Some Traps

Today, you can easily trap slugs without hurting or killing them. The best way to do this is to empty a small cardboard box or bury a little bowl in the soil. Put some sugary water or beer in the cardboard box or bowl, then bury it in shallow soil.

The dirt, moisture, and sweet odor should be enough to attract some slugs. After a few hours, you should find some slugs in the box or bowl, and you can safely relocate them away from your yard. However, you may want to wait until the next morning, so you catch as many slugs as possible.

Summing It Up

Slugs are drawn to yards that have poor soil drainage and lots of decomposing organic matter. They also typically stick around yards with lots of dark hiding spots and consistent food sources. You can deter slugs by spraying peppermint oil and introducing natural predators, like frogs and toads.

Related Guides:

• 11 Pests That Can Ruin A Spring Garden (And How To Stop Them)
• Is It Normal To Have Bugs In Compost?