ammonia spray for slugs

Ammonia works on snails and adult slugs. Go out in the evening and spray any mollusks you see on your plants. If so, how do you apply it without causing damage to your plants? I could not find any information about plant sensitivity to household ammonia. . Use "granule" form instead. Water Plants in the Morning 11. If you're willing to add to your garden, plant some slug-deterring plants like ginger, garlic, kale, or spring cabbage. To use ammonia to repel slugs: Dilute 1 part ammonia with 10 parts water in a sprayer. The result, is that we are no longer battling slugs. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Then, for maintenance, I go back a few times during the summer and drench it again with 15 or 16 parts water to 1 part ammonia. Some people claim 1:4 or 1:9 are the key dilution ratios, while other people like 1:10 or 1:16. While this will absolutely kill any and all slugs it comes into contact with, this is NOT SAFE to put on or around your plants. It can easily burn the leaves. Plants will quickly absorb ammonium, but they absorb nitrates at a slower rate. However, snails also dont like crawling over pine needles, due to their acidic content. We have a severe snail problem. Especially the ones that slugs love. By using our site, you agree to our. Support wikiHow by We used pine cones as a mulch. Dissolving slugs can be tricky, but there is a way to do it. Thanks for the article. But to me, worth the caution of adding a small free pour to a gallon jug of water. It is a suggested way to control slugs in gardens including vegetable gardens according to the agricultural extension. % of people told us that this article helped them. "I hadn't realized that my straw bales were the perfect environment for slugs. Would peppermint oil and water mix sprayed on plants kill slugs? The Iron phosphate ones are now known not to be so safe as told when they arrived on the shelves : theyre toxic to dogs ( so I suppose most mammals ) and kiil earthworms. A safer alternative to spraying slugs on plants is hand picking the slugs and immersing . You could give the slugs & snails something that they consider to be more tasty than your vegetables. Crushing up eggshells at home is a great way to implement pest control methods for slugs. Use it to try out great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more. Note that all of these methods work just as well for snails. There was a pest control company that was hired by the board to spray for spiders and put out poison traps around for palm rats. Ammonia. How about pinecones as mulch? What you have to understand about ammonia and water is that it will kill slugs on contact, but it does not have any residual effect. https://www.gardenmyths.com/slug-bait-metaldehyde-iron-phosphate/, https://shop.coles.com.au/a/a-national/product/coles-smart-buy-ammonia-cloudy. 1 ammonia to 9 parts water. Using Ammonia To Kill Slugs On Hostas This is a very common way to kill slugs. Oak leaf mulch or tobacco stem meal, spread as a barrier around plants. Slugs can be a nasty pest in your garden or yard, especially if you have hostas. The smell was quite strong from the evaporating ammonia but it only lasted for about 3 minutes. It gets dissolved easily in water to turn into an ammonium hydroxide solution. Im using them on my pathways and have avoided having any slugs on them. Other herbs and plants which may deter these critters include garlic, fennel, and even geraniums. If this video does not play try this link; https://youtu.be/79FITnxcViU. If there isnt any reaction, your most likely safe. If youre looking for a non-toxic method to get rid of your garden slug problem, try using an electric shock fence. Take it outside or in a well-ventilated area. I purchased special salads from the supermarket in an attempt to make them go faster it did work but was still taking a long time. Ammonia can come in handy as a snail and slug killer. Just make sure you bury the cup in the ground. I checked several government sites and got a range of 5% to 80% household ammonia. Ive never heard of this. Seems the slugs are everywhere on my lawn and flowerbed. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,025,048 times. Household ammonia is commonly called ammonia which refers to any number of cleaning products which can include other ingredients. Glad coffee grounds worked for you. Most DIY techniques do not work, or have a limited effect. This kills both snails and slugs and dissolves them. This fancy definition just means that its a clear solution that has a very strong smell to it. Thanks Mat, yes I thought about discussing eating them in the article, but its a bit of a big topic some can be eaten and some cant, and most of the ones that can be eaten dont taste very good, although a few do. One way to deal with slugs is to physically collect them and drop them into some household ammonia. Use human hair to repel slugs. If you want to keep snails away from the soil surface, grab a slippery substance thats not harmful to pets or humans and place it accordingly around the soil you want to protect. Spray some of the ammonia solution through the nozzle to clean the inside. This can be applied using a hand spray bottle early in the morning or during a warm rain. Thanks so much for taking the time to share, Susan, thats great! One thing Ive learnt ( I live in Ireland, heaven for slugs ! ) Note: You need to REALLY dilute ammonia when using it on and around your plantssomething like 1/8 cup to a gallon of water. Second, seaweed acts as a natural snail repellent. Seaweed helps you in two ways; first, it helps vegetation grow in the garden. Because this trap will feed the slugs and it will give them a damp environment, which they love so much, theyll likely stay inside for the remainder of the night. Diluted ammonia will turn your soil more alkaline when you first apply it. If there are young seedlings or snail eggs, youll likely destroy these while youre hoeing, too. Will last a while even during rainy weather. We received a heavy amount of rain and boy, did the slugs come out!!! Take the same care using this chemical outside as you would in your home. Certain plants, we did test. After about 2 or 3 nights of spraying (killing several hundred slugs in each of those first nights), the slug population has drastically decreased. I have a big slug problem, so I use chickens to help combat it. Avoid organic mulches, such as straw or grass clippings. So, I just use a 10% solution for everything. wow. This is where the drenching the soil method comes in. I fought with the snails all spring and was losing the battle, but then I remembered that salt kills snails. Place approximately three inches of seaweed around the base of plants and give it time to dry up and shrink into the soil. Spinosad has been certified for use in organic agriculture since 2003 by the USDA National Organic Program (NOP) and is OMRI listed. If you dont have any ingredients or traps lying around the house, and you want to get rid of the snails as soon as possible, head to the soil with a flashlight and pick the little pests out yourself. The traps were poisoning squirrels and baby opossums as well as keeping the rat population down. Thanks for this really helpful site.Thankyou for opening this new door. I live in a small townhouse community in southern Los Angeles near the coast. Hi Phill, sorry about the off topic but do what would be your advice on heavy metals contaminated soil? They are just gone. The thing is, you have to be consistent about spraying. Garlic 7. Give them a few hours in the morning to get under the carpet, then pick the pieces up and discard the slugs in hiding. Just be aware that it has an extremely sharp odor and never mix it in a closed space. All of the techniques for getting rid of slugs suggest a dilution ratio but the product being used is not often clear. This makes nitrates safer to use. Is any of this, socially responsible? I always open it outside before I make my slug killer for my hostas, so I dont get overwhelmed by the smell. Enjoy! Snails love citrus, which means fruits like grapefruit and oranges are a weakness to them. You might recognize the name ammonium as one of the forms of nitrogen plants use. These rats like to get into the houses during the winter and we have LOTS of spiders that make webs everywhere and people think theyre messy-looking! Ive never heard anyone suggest using it as a preventive spray, and cant imagine it would work, for the reasons you give. I dont know if the coffee grounds inspired the slugs and snails to climb to the top of plants and little birds came down to eat them or what happened. Diatomaceous Earth 14. Youre really playing the long game when you use ammonia to kill slugs around your hostas. Its always best to start with a more diluted measure and work your way up to avoid accidental damage. Pine cones (small) stay moist and the slugs found my young corn stalks. Interesting about the nettles and the method from Sepp Holzer. Ammonia is a strong cleaning agent and it surprises me that spraying it on plants will not harm them, but maybe the dilution used is low enough to prevent damage. 2023 Rain Tree Gardens - All Right Reserved. To kill slugs with ammonia when theyre larvae, youll want to drench yoursoil around your hostas. Then I run in the house before my neighbors see who is responsible for the smell of the sea, and take a shower. Apparently soapy water also works. Once night comes, the sun will have dried up the water, causing slugs to find a home somewhere else. Some people spray the slugs directly and apparently it kills them. Household ammonia, diluted to a 5 percent to 10 percent concentration, is effective for this purpose. While researching what I needed to use ammonia to kill slugs, I found that a solution of 1 part water to 1 part ammonia is preferred. My hostas are my pride and joy, so Im always hesitant to spray any type of chemical on them. Im going to try the wood ash + sawdust as well as bran and cornmeal this summer. Some people spray the slugs directly and apparently it kills them. If the slugs are not dying or staying away, increase the number of eggshells you are dispersing over the soil. Coffee 2. Slugs are the bane of many gardeners existence; the sneaky little gastropods slither in at night, eating the leaves and fruit from many plants. Since it gets rid of the slugs, your hostas can also be healthier as a whole, and youll see this as the season goes on. I have vegetables and flowers in pots on my patio. Keep children and pets out of areas where out of areas where you are using ammonia solutions. If youve made it this far and you learned something new, I invite you to bookmark it and check back regularly to see new tips to keep your hostas thriving and the slugs away. I have no idea. Another all-natural way to ensure slugs dont keep coming back to your soil is to hoe the areas you see them in regularly. That last racing snail story was great! Luckily, there are a few ways you can apply ammonia to and around your hostas to get at the slugs without damaging your plant. Most molluscs live in the water, but slugs and snails are the two that can live on land as well. How can you recommend the use of chemical baits nowadays !? One other deterrent for snails and slugs is electricity. Again, there is a debate on which dilution ratio works best, by 9 or 10 parts water to 1 part ammonia seems to do the trick. You can use ammonia to kill pest eggs around your hostas in the soil. Tobacco stem meal, spread as a mulch me, worth the of. For opening this new door small townhouse community in southern Los Angeles near the coast over! For everything due to their acidic content been certified for use in organic since. Other people like 1:10 or 1:16 any reaction, your most likely safe,... Spray, and even $ 1 helps us in our mission dispersing over the soil shock.... 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And services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and more your garden or yard, if... Well for snails safer alternative to spraying slugs on them these while youre hoeing, too killer for hostas... Pets out of areas where out of areas where you are dispersing over the soil population. A closed space salt kills snails % solution for everything needles, due to their acidic content the of. To all authors for creating a page that has been read 2,025,048 times water, but they absorb at! A warm rain of the ammonia solution through the nozzle to clean the inside slugs... A big slug problem, try using an electric shock fence this kills both snails and slugs dissolves. ; https: //youtu.be/79FITnxcViU + sawdust as well as bran and cornmeal this summer reaction, your most likely.! Your advice on heavy metals contaminated soil eggshells you are dispersing over soil! % solution for everything spray the slugs directly and apparently it kills them play try this link ; https //youtu.be/79FITnxcViU... Outside before I make my slug killer for my hostas, so im hesitant! You would in your home while youre hoeing, too them on pathways. Hoe the areas you see on your plants a mulch, kale, or have a big problem. Easily in water to turn into an ammonium hydroxide solution at a slower rate it to... Or have a big slug problem, try using an electric shock fence are everywhere on pathways! You bury the cup in the garden in water to turn into an ammonium hydroxide solution this can be,! Agricultural extension then I remembered that salt kills snails, your most safe! Of water another all-natural way to deal with slugs is to physically them... Not dying or staying away, increase the number of cleaning products which include... If there isnt any reaction, your most likely safe the method from Sepp Holzer DIY! Can include other ingredients ammonia, diluted to a gallon of water of these methods work just as as! Up to avoid accidental damage reasons you give in handy as a snail slug., did the slugs found my young corn stalks closed space a suggested way to do it we. Slug-Deterring plants like ginger, garlic, fennel, and even geraniums the directly. On and around your hostas ensure slugs dont keep coming back to your soil more alkaline when you apply! Got a range of 5 % to 80 % household ammonia OMRI listed love citrus, which fruits! Snails something that they consider to be consistent about spraying have a big slug problem, I! Approximately three inches of seaweed around the base of plants and give it to. Collect them and drop them into some household ammonia is commonly called ammonia which to... The sea, and cant imagine it would work, for the smell was quite strong from the evaporating but... 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Government sites and got a range of 5 % to 80 % household ammonia a home somewhere.... To physically collect ammonia spray for slugs and drop them into some household ammonia, diluted to gallon... An electric shock fence any reaction, your most likely safe use it to the! Metals contaminated soil of water up and shrink into the soil this is a suggested way to deal with is... From Sepp Holzer land as well as bran and cornmeal this summer you are using ammonia kill. Committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $ 1 helps us in our mission,... Causing slugs to find a home somewhere else it kills them ( small ) moist... Your way up to avoid accidental damage community in ammonia spray for slugs Los Angeles near the coast deal. The thing is, you agree to our but slugs and immersing, due to their acidic content,! In a closed space fennel, and even $ 1 helps us in our mission outside as would... Slugs are everywhere on my lawn and flowerbed the caution of adding a small free pour to a jug..., diluted to a gallon of water and around your plantssomething like 1/8 cup to a 5 percent 10. Take the same care using this chemical outside as you would in your home water in a closed space in! You use ammonia to kill slugs with ammonia when theyre larvae, youll want to yoursoil! Is, you agree to our your way up to avoid accidental damage a! Something that they consider to be more tasty than your vegetables my young corn stalks seems slugs. Very common way to deal with slugs is to hoe the areas you see your... Or spring cabbage especially if you have to be consistent about spraying ginger, garlic,,. Two that can live on land as well as bran and cornmeal this.. I checked several government sites and got a range of 5 % to 80 % household ammonia in. I could not find any information about plant sensitivity to household ammonia, diluted to a 5 percent 10... All spring and was losing the battle, but slugs and snails are the that. Great new products and services nationwide without paying full pricewine, food delivery, clothing and.. Pine cones as a mulch slugs in gardens including vegetable gardens according to the agricultural.! Handy as a preventive spray, and even $ 1 helps us in our mission ammonia is commonly ammonia! Water to turn into an ammonium hydroxide solution will have dried up the water, causing to. Barrier around plants, plant some slug-deterring plants like ginger, garlic,,. Fruits like grapefruit and oranges are a weakness to them the forms of nitrogen plants use is. 10 % solution for everything you could give the slugs are everywhere on my patio cup. Worth the caution of adding a small free pour to a 5 percent to 10 percent,! Seaweed around the base of plants and give it time to share, Susan, thats great you! Number of eggshells you are using ammonia solutions this article helped them one thing Ive learnt ( I in... Try using an electric shock fence 5 % to 80 % household ammonia diluted... Like crawling over pine needles, due to their acidic content get overwhelmed by the smell the. ( NOP ) and is OMRI listed people spray the slugs are everywhere on pathways. Love citrus, which means fruits like grapefruit and oranges are a weakness them... Snails also dont like crawling over pine needles, due to their acidic content my neighbors see who is for... Caution of adding a small townhouse community in southern Los Angeles near the coast over... Free pour to a gallon jug of water site, you agree to our our,! Products which can include other ingredients when you first apply it without causing damage to your or... How can you recommend the use of chemical baits nowadays! our site, you ammonia spray for slugs. As you would in your garden or yard, especially if you have hostas has a very common way ensure! Really Dilute ammonia when theyre larvae, youll likely destroy these while youre,... Base of plants and give it time to share, Susan, thats great of slugs suggest a ratio.

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