Garden Mixes

Beer Slug Traps

Make beer slug traps from an empty yogurt cup filled with a few inches of beer and set in the soil. A simple way to catch garden slugs.

Beer slug traps

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A buried yogurt cup with a little beer and a hole in the lid to lure and trap slugs.
Prep Time10 minutes
Total Time10 minutes
CourseDIY

What You’ll Need
  

  • An empty yogurt or take-out container with its lid (or a shallow, wide pie tin for the open version)
  • Sharp scissors to trim the container
  • Beer (lagers and stouts are believed most appealing; pick one that smells yeasty and sweet)

Equipment

  • scissors

Directions
 

  1. Pour about three inches of beer into the container and snap on the lid.
  2. Cut a hole in the lid “about the size of a slug.
  3. Sink the container into the ground so its top is level with the soil, where slugs can get in.
  4. Set the traps near the base of damaged plants, because slugs do not travel far.
  5. Open version: Use a shallow, wide container with a lip, buried so the lip is level with the soil, about 3/4 – 1 inch deep.

Notes

Some slugs drink and crawl out, and beer can draw more slugs in, so pair with other methods. trap depth matters for avoiding beneficial ground dwellers. Slugs can carry gapeworms that harm chickens and ducks.
Safety: Beer attracts dogs, and alcohol is toxic to pets; use the lidded version where pets roam. Keep kids from the traps. Wear gloves when emptying.