Slugs and snails
Night feeders that leave smooth-edged holes and silvery slime trails.
What you'll see
- Irregular holes with smooth edges in leaves, flowers, low fruit and seedlings.
- Silvery slime trails on leaves, soil, pots or paths.
- Seedlings eaten down to stumps overnight; the culprits come out at night or after rain.
Why it happens
Slugs and snails feed at night on soft, juicy growth and hide by day in damp, shady places.
How to fix it
- Pick them off by flashlight after dark, especially on mild, damp evenings.
- Set traps such as boards or upturned citrus halves, and empty them every day.
- If needed, scatter iron phosphate bait thinly near plants, exactly as the label says, and keep pets away from it.
- Never use salt, which harms the soil, and keep any bait away from kids.
Keep it from coming back
- Clear hiding places such as boards, stones and debris near beds.
- Water in the morning so surfaces are dry by night.
- Protect seedlings, or plant sturdier transplants instead.
Sources
General guidance, not a diagnosis. For valuable, edible or outdoor crops, check with a local extension service or plant expert. Use any product exactly as its label says, and keep children and pets away while it dries.