Occasional Invaders
Slug Identification and Property Tips
| Apr 22, 2022
Photograph of a brown slug extending its head and tentacles above a rough surface.
Slugs are soft-bodied mollusks that can feed on garden plants. Ragged holes and slime trails are useful inspection clues, especially when damage appears overnight.
Identification and habits
Slugs favor moist shelter and often hide beneath boards, pots or dense ground cover during dry conditions. They do not have the obvious coiled shell of a snail. Other pests can also make holes in leaves, so confirm the cause before treating a planting.
What to do at your property
Inspect vulnerable plants after dusk with a flashlight and reduce unnecessary damp hiding places. Adjust watering to the needs of the plant and improve drainage where appropriate. If considering a bait, read its label for the exact site and precautions around pets and children. Ask whether a landscape specialist or a pest inspection best fits the problem.
Photograph the pest clearly and note where and when it appeared. Ask Plank about identification and whether inspection, prevention or selected treatment is appropriate. The service scope and any follow-up are confirmed for your property.
Reference: University of Minnesota Extension: slugs in home gardens.
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