Keyword garden pests, organic pest control, recycled containers, slug control
Prep Time 10 minutesminutes
Total Time 10 minutesminutes
A buried yogurt cup with a little beer and a hole in the lid to lure and trap slugs.
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)
Directions
Pour about three inches of beer into the container and snap on the lid.
Cut a hole in the lid "about the size of a slug.
Sink the container into the ground so its top is level with the soil, where slugs can get in.
Set the traps near the base of damaged plants, because slugs do not travel far.
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.