Sowbugs & Slugs in Organic Gardening

Slugs and bugs and other creepy-crawlies. Sometimes it seems impossible to win the "war" against these critters when not using chemicals in an organic style garden especially now in the Springtime when there is not a lot for them to eat. New seedlings: peas, lettuce, spinach, kale and radish all seem to be disappearing fast, including the lower leaves of transplanted tomato plants. Each of these culprits deserve an article on their own but here is the lowdown on how I am waging the war against these particular garden pests at this time. The recipes are at the end of the article.

Sowbugs woodlice pillbugs (or rolly polly bugs)

I have never had a serious problem with these until this year due to a large amount of wood retaining walls in our partly shaded garden with many places for pill or sowbugs (and slugs) to hide, eat and sleep. At this time we don't plan to replace the retaining walls so co-existence was researched.

Control: As there were so many sow / pill bugs (10 - 12 per plant) I made up a strong solution of garlic spray and within two days of spraying their numbers were drastically reduced. Repeat direct spray as needed. The spray did not seem to damage young spinach plants or kale after 3 daily sprays but a few lettuce leaves were not happy.

Slugs

Slugs are an ongoing problem in this area of the Northwest Pacific, especially with a natural wooded green belt behind our home. Slugs thrive in our climate and it seems once they get a foothold it is impossible to remove them. A few large slugs can do a sizeable amount of plant damage overnight so it is a continuing concern

Control

1. Hand picking early in the morning or after a rain is often the most efficient way of control for slugs
2. A straight vinegar spray will "dissolve" them rather fast but this is not my first choice of control
3. Beer in a saucer has worked in the past
4. More on slug control using copper rings
5. A ring of sand (silica) around plants seems to deter them

Notes

• A strong vinegar spray can be harmful to all insects and worms not just slugs so be cautious
• The same may apply to garlic spray depending on strength
• Try and wash off insects with soapy or warm water before using sprays
• Consider companion planting: such as carrots with peas / lettuce, Brassica family with aromatic herbs, corn with beans / peas, lettuce with onions, squash with corn, etc deters insects. Herbs and garlic are generally beneficial
• Water your gardens in the morning, especially if you have a slug problem
• Ground pepper (bulk) sprinkled near gardens and compost bins are a good repellent for raccoons, cats and perhaps other critters. Repeat after rain
• Pesticides especially those containing carbaryl and metaldehyde are not recommended in vegetable (or any) gardens
• Last fall a yellow (unidentified) frog ventured into the garden - hopefully he will return to keep the slugs and bugs under control
• Birds, spiders and snakes are all positive assets in your vegetable garden as they consume a lot of pests

Live each day as if it were your last, and garden as though you will live forever
- Scottish proverb

To get down to business. My weapons of choice are a very strong homemade garlic spray, vinegar spray and manually picking (yuck) and destroying. Here are these simple and effective recipes:

Slug Garlic Spray (full strength)

1. Crush up one bulb of garlic
2. Add one cup of hot water (this is a strong solution). I usually use 2 cups of water
3. Let sit overnight
4. Double strain (cheesecloth works well) in the morning and spray

• Garlic spray may be toxic to some insects and will "burn"  plants
• A milder garlic spray can also be used for controlling aphids and other harmful insects by adding a small amount of liquid soap
• Always test a small amount first before spraying plants and trees with any spray
• If you have a storm drain which has water in it all year - use garlic spray mixed with vegetable oil and pour into the drain to thinly cover the water surface. This should kill mosquito larvae

Slug & Bug Vinegar spray

1. Use regular white vinegar and water 50 / 50 or straight vinegar if using to kill slugs

• If you have chickens they will enjoy eating the slugs
• If vinegar gets on to fragile plants such as lettuce leaves it may burn or kill them
• Vinegar makes a good weed killer in cracks in walkways, etc.

These ideas are easy, chemical free and will help control pesky sowbugs, slugs and let the spiders, birds and bees enjoy your garden. It is a part of my chemical free / organic gardening regime and if you have children, pets and birds in your yard using harmful toxic chemicals is not an option. Happy gardening.

 Links & References

• Keeping raccoons out of the compost
• ... and more about raccoons
• Keeping spiders out of the house
• Be cautious: toxic pesticides in your home
• Bees will thrive in your home garden by not using toxic sprays
• Melbourne Botanical Gardens
• The Self-Sufficient Gardener by John Seymour, Dolphin, 1980
• The Postage Stamp Garden Book by Duane Newcomb, Tarcher, 1975
• The Integral Urban House by Farallones Institute, 1979

 A favourite quote of my Dad's:

A garden is the purest of human pleasures. It is the greatest refreshment to the spirits of man,
without which buildings and palaces are but gross handiworks ~ Francis Bacon