Hostas should be renamed ‘Slug Food’ – every year my Hostas have been nibbled when young, eaten in Summer and decimated by Autumn.
Guess what I have done this year – yep I have potted them up into containers and so far so good (until the little devils learn to fly or crawl up the pot sides).
It is the little black slugs rather than the fat juicy brown slugs that do the most damage but knowing that won’t make you feel any better.
Top Tips for Protecting Hostas from Slugs
- Plant in Pots and protect with copper wire sharp material around plants.
- Follow these methods for controlling population of slugs Best way of killing slugs
Gardeners Tips alternative idea for avoiding slug damage to Hostas – plant plastic Hostas
Related
- More tips on Growing Hostas
- Hostas at Thompson and Morgan
I hope this works for you but still do keep an eye out for the slimy little buggers because I’ve had them crawl up 3 shelves to the top and plant their little bodies in a pot in my greenhouse! My top shelf is probably 4 1/2 feet high. They are very persistant!!! I certainly don’t mean to sound discouraging but don’t want you to lose more hostas – I’ve almost lost some too.
Yup, I’m thinking plastic hostas would for sure be unpalatable to those pesky slugs, but also to the gardener, so I sure hope those slugs don’t find your potted hostas!
I had problems with slugs for years, learned a tip that has worked great for me. After a rain or a good watering when those little buggers like to come out, I give my kids squirt bottles filled with a mixture of half amonia and half water and let them spray the dickens out of my hostas. The slugs die, the plants are fed and everyone is happy!