Slug infestation!

[Ankerdam]

We had our garden turfed about 4 months ago, and despite having had turfed gardens everywhere I've ever lived, we have a problem I've never encountered.

The grass is FULL of slugs. Little white ones, medium tan ones and big fat brown ones. There's 200+ in a 100m2 space. We have literally no plants/shrubs, etc, it's a slabbed patio (no pots) and grass.

I've Googled whether pet hedgehogs are a thing but apparently not really, which is a shame because our garden would be a treat and frankly, I have no idea how else to get rid of them/keep at them at bay.

It honestly makes me not want to go in the garden because it's just pretty repulsive to be constantly standing on slugs or having them crawl across anything that it's stationary for too long.

Any suggestions gratefully received...

Nemaslug will do the job. It's nemotode eggs that you water into the ground and they kill them off, no chemicals that may hurt the local wildlife and cats.

In the meantime I suggest a slug hunt. My little one loves scooping them up with a spade into a bucket and relocating them to the end of the street on patch of woody grassland.

Beer is also useful for an immediate reduction in numbers, they crawl in and drown but then you have a disgusting mess to get rid off the next morning.

I take back my quota of 200, on closer look it's easily over 1,000. It's absolutely disgusting. 😫

You need some ducks!

I'd second ducks, or chickens... but they generally only eat the smallest slugs (my chickens are irritatingly fussy) and they make a huge mess (scratching up the lawn and pooping everywhere)!

I think nematodes (watered in on a regular basis) are your best bet for a usable lawn... good luck!

Don’t read the book Slugs

I went old-fashioned, nuclear after the buggers eventually made their way into my home (only know this because I'd find slime trails on the carpet the next day). I resorted to salt around any areas I didn't want them to be in. Seems to have done the trick.

4 pack of cheap beer, put it in deepish Tupperware (like plastic takeaway containers) spread 6 tubs out over your lawn, leave for 24 hours or so.

The yeast in the beer attracts the slugs, they crawl in for a drink and drown. These can then be tipped down the toilet and flushed or chucked into the wheelie bin (double bag as the beer will also attract wasps.

Eurghhh I would get the salt out! Hope you find out what's causing so many!