Controlling Slugs & Wood Bugs in the Garden
Slugs and wood bugs are common pests in humid locations like Powell River, and they sure can do a number on the seedlings in our gardens. There are lots of theories out there about how to deal with these unwanted critters, some of them work, and some of them don’t. There are chemical-based bait options that work; however, some of them are dangerous for pets, so you may not want to use them.
When it comes down to garden pests, the two key factors are vigilance and prevention. If you know what environments and food sources different pests like, you can do your best to make your garden an unwelcoming place for them. It’s quite likely that you’ll still get some pests every year, but if you’re vigilant about checking your plants closely, you’ll find them before they can cause too much damage.
Controlling Wood Bugs
Wood bugs are a type of woodlice and crustacean. There are many different types of woodlice, and they have a variety of different names, including pill bugs, sow bugs, roly-poly’s, roll up bugs, doodlebugs, and wood bugs.
All wood bugs like damp, dark places with lots of decaying organic matter to eat, and safe places to hide.
Prevent wood bugs by eliminating decaying organic matter like leaf piles and grass clippings, and by removing weeds from the garden as soon as you pull them. They also like to hide in cool, damp places, so keep any loose bricks and planks of wood out of the garden.
If you already have wood bugs, you can tackle the problem by picking them off by hand when you see them, or by setting up beer traps. Sink empty tuna cans into the soil, so the rim is level with the top of the soil, then pour about 1 inch of beer into the can. Wood bugs and slugs will be attracted to the beer and fall in.
Controlling Slugs
Slugs are a land-dwelling mollusk, similar to snails, and they can eat a surprising amount of green leaves off our plants. They also leave unsightly slimy trails all over the place.
What works to prevent wood bugs also works to deter slugs. They like the same kinds of conditions that wood bugs do, cool, damp, and safe. Knowing this, it’s best to eliminate any decaying plant waste, weeds, and any other moist, slug inviting debris that may be lying around.
Having good airflow around your plants will also make it a less desirable place for slugs.Taking the bottom leaves off plants like tomatoes and peppers can help the plant and the ground around it dry faster after watering or rain, making it less hospitable.
If you already have slugs, you can tackle them in a few different ways. The beer traps mentioned above work great for slugs, and picking them by hand is also effective. There are also live traps for slugs, where you would relocate them after the trap is full. You can also tackle them with diatomaceous earth (DE) when the ground is drier.
Wear a mask, and sprinkle the DE on the ground around your plants, try not to get it on the leaves. The only challenge with DE is that it only works when it’s dry, so you’ll need to reapply after it rains.
Pest grade DE has not been through the same tests and processing as food-grade DE, so it is not safe for humans or pets to ingest. Be sure to keep kids and pets away from the area you’ve applied it. Food grade DE works well for both slugs, wood bugs, and other garden pests, and it’s human and pet friendly.
Check your DE packaging very carefully to find out if it is food grade diatomaceous earth, or pest grade. Food grade is safe for pets and people, though it’s still not good to breathe the fine powder into your lungs. There is also a DE designed for pool filters and cleaners; this product is very hazardous for pets and humans, so do not use it for pest control.