Skip The Lemons: There's A Better Way To Keep Slugs Out Of The Garden

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Slugs are some of the worst garden pests. Not only do they eat your flowers, fruits, and veggies, but they also leave behind nasty, slimy trails. And if you've been dealing with these creepy-crawly pests, chances are you've heard of using citrus fruits like lemons to keep them at bay. However, this popular garden myth for deterring slugs can't be trusted. If anything, lemons and other citrus fruits attract slugs, and the only possible only way you can use them to get rid of these pests is as bait. 

So, it's best to find other ways to use lemons in your home. If slugs are causing chaos in your garden, use iron phosphate slug pellets, like Garden Safe Slug & Snail Bait Granules, to control the infestation instead. These pellets are still eco-friendly, but they're far more effective than citrus fruits. They work by disrupting slugs' calcium metabolism and ultimately destroying their digestive system. It can take a few days for iron phosphate-based slug pellets to kill the slugs, but they do stop eating the plants immediately.

To use iron phosphate pellets to kill slugs, spread them sparingly over a large area. Do not pile them up on the ground and don't arrange them as barriers around flower or vegetable beds. For the best results, apply the pellets evenly and follow the manufacturer's instructions. Crucially, do not use more than the recommended amount, as it will not give you better results. Then, just replace the pellets as they get eaten or if they get washed away after a heavy rain.

Iron phosphate pellets can generally be used in any weather during the warmer months of the year. It's best to spread the pellets early in the morning or late in the evening — slugs are most active at night, so this timing significantly increases the effectiveness of the pellets. It is also a good idea to soak the area before spreading the pellets. 

You can get even better results by using other organic slug control methods along with iron phosphate pellets. For instance, you can use eelworm or microscopic nematodes. These are easily available, and they can be watered into the soil, from where they enter slug bodies, infecting and killing the pests. If, however, you want something more home-based, you can set beer or yeast traps. Plus, you can also hand-pick the slugs and drown them in soapy water.