Country Lore: Use Pine Needles as a Slug Repellent

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PHOTO: ANDI TARANCZUK/FOTOLIA
Let the slugs ooze around in the grass, not your garden. Spread some pine needles around and they'll stay away; slug repellent needn't be lethal, just unpleasant.

After years of trial and error with methods to keep slugs from eating my vegetable garden plants, I finally discovered a workable slug repellent. The discovery was an accident: I was sitting on the ground under a tree and leaned back on my hand — ouch! The dry, sharp pine needles poked into my palm.

I sprinkled the dry needles around each plant and did not have any more losses due to slugs.

Angela Smith
Duluth, MN

  • Published on May 21, 2009
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