Posted on 05/29/2009 8:27:19 PM PDT by JoeProBono
Like many folks who have shady, moist yards, I have slugs. Like many guys who drink beer, I have a supply of brews that "seemed like a good idea at the time." These beers, in other words, are leftovers. So following the advice of many garden gurus, including Michael Pollan, I recently tried to eliminate slugs by serving them my leftover beer. Now each morning I go out in the backyard and check my "beer traps."
So far, results are dismal. No slug has sampled the Stoudt's Oktoberfest, a once prize-winning brew that I snagged on sale after it had been sitting for months in a warehouse. Once I tasted it, I knew why it was on sale. Nary a slug has taken a dipped in the Cranberry Wit, one of offerings made by home brewers that Samuel Adams has packaged in its LongShot series. The failure to lure any slugs may not be the fault of the beers. According to slug experts at the University of Illinois, the beer traps should be no more than a quarter-inch off the ground. I had mine in bowls that sit about 2 inches off the ground. In other words, my slugs could not belly up to bar.
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The beer works-but as you said it cannot be too high off the ground. Another slug catcher is supposed to be ground coffee.
So far not much luck.
It does work....and I guess they may die *happy*.
It might work better than stuff you buy to kill them.
I keep meaning to put more traps out there, but I can’t stop drinking the beer. : )
What are you suggesting - that your slugs are all Baptists?
I live in Sarasota, FL. I read that butterflies like beer though they drink it through their feet. I put it out in saucers with pebbles. The results make me think that possums or racoons are drinking the beer cuz the pebbles are always pushed out of the saucer. Maybe I’ll put some Miller Lite in the saucers; even a possum wouldn’t like that crap, would it?
Speaking of possums and raccoons, the coonies have been digging up my garden. They scoop a plant up — or dig to the roots — looking for grubs. I come out in the morning, it is like a drunken teddybear’s picnic. Plants tossed hither and yon, roses with bare roots.
Anyone have any good ideas re getting rid of them? I am close to sitting out with my pump shotgun, altho we are in Los Angeles. Last year they ate the corn OFF the cob, before it was harvested.
The slugs are after the yeast in the beer. You can save your supply of beer by using bread yeast, some flour and sugar added to water. I think I read this in Jerry Baker’s book. No sense wasting a good bottle of Hudy.
I think you are right. I wonder, do you think they would like Rolling Rock?
We used to throw old coffee grounds down in the ditch when it rained. The earthworms would head straight for it and we snatch them all up and go fishing.
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