Slugs! How do we eliminate them?

[Compostella]

This is our 1st year of having a garden and we planted some nice borders and tubs.

Now I keep finding the odd plant looking unwell and upon closer inspection I usually find a slug close by.

I guess that the slug is eating the plant, should I be getting rid of it or is it something that we have to put up with?

[kwicky]

Or get some troughs filled with beer. They enjoy this and die in a happy frame of mind.

[vivandorron]

I'm going to slug it to you and tell you that kwicky is being serious. The beer trap does work.........Ron

[RATTER15]

What a waste of beer though!!!! get some slug pellets!!!

[Waaii]

A more friendly way of re-directing the slugs and snails from precious plants may be to put sharp sand, crushed egg shells or coffee grounds around the plant.
One solution that has worked very well for me on things like cucumbers, small marrow plants, lupins and hostas is to slice up a plastic bottle into apx, 3 inch circles and make a collar round each plant that they cant climb up!
Hope this helps. Good gardening!

[Bookworm9]

All the above except the slug pellets which are harmful to the wildlife but, have you thought of fostering hedgehogs?

I don't know where you live but any local vet will give you the name and address of a hedgehog rescue centre. They are wonderful little slug and snail vacuum cleaners and don't really ask for much in return.