Post date: May 26, 2020 1:05:05 PM
An organic tool to controlling slugs in the garden is to breed and spray a nematode called Phasmarhabditis hermaphrodita. This nematode is its natural predator and demolishes slug populations.
Nematodes are not visible to the eye. They are small worm like creatures that live in soil. There are both good and bad nematodes. In a well nourished and balanced soil environment the good vastly outnumber the bad. An organically rich garden will have nematodes that clean up and keep it healthy.
This above nematode P.hermaphrodita infects the slugs and kills it and can efficiently destroy all slugs in the yard. It is also easy to breed this from the infected slugs themselves.
Use a fruit trap or a starch bait to capture slugs in the yard. Look for slugs with a swollen patch on their back. That lesion, or raised wound is the mark that the slug is infected by the nematode.
In a 5 gallon bucket add some water at the bottom. Place a bunch of leaves of cabbage, piled one on top of the other, and place the infected slug and few other slugs on the top of the leaves. Place this leaf raft on the water. It should not sink into the water.
The nematodes will soon infect and kill all the slugs which would be alive feeding on the leaves. The nematodes then fall into the water. Keep this contraption in a cool dry place and cover with a cloth. Protect from birds and other predators.
In two weeks, the slugs will all be dead, the leaf would have rotten, and the water filled with the nematodes. You can’t see them, but they are there :)
Fill a drum or bin with rain water. Or tap water left overnight for chlorine to dissipate. Decant the nematode solution and add to the water. Fill cans and water the entire garden to distribute the nematodes. They will take over and demolish the slugs in about 15 days at the most.
This is an extremely efficient organic method to control slugs, used extensively by organic farmers. If you aren’t grossed out by picking up an infected slug you could use this method.
A good winter garden will naturally support nematodes that will clean up the garden before Spring. That might be your long term solution.