Slugs and snails belong to the class of animal life know as the Gastropods. Some members of this class are aquatic while others are terrestrial. Some of the aquatic snails can help in maintaining a healthy thriving garden pond because they help to control algae and literally vacuum up much of the sediment from the bottom of ponds.

Terrestrial snails have some value in the maintenance of rich garden soil and will not harm most plants if their numbers are controlled.

Slugs are a kind of mollusk of the gastropod class related to snails but without shells. The genus Limex commonly found over most of the United States can grow over 4 inches long at maturity. Having no shell, they must avoid prolonged exposure to the sun. During sunny daylight hours they seek shelter under logs, rocks, flower pots, pockets under patio stones and other places that remain shaded, cool and moist. During the night and early morning hours are the times of day when they feed.

It is the young slugs that become so numerous in the spring which can produce so much damage to tender foliage. They will eat the leaves of small seedlings and other plants where tender foliage is close to the ground.

Especially vulnerable to slug feasts are the many varieties of Hostas. Because these beautiful plants thrive in the same shade or filtered light enjoyed by slugs, the large tender leaves are some of the favorite eateries of these slimy gastropods. When holes are seen all over the leaves of shade thriving plants, it is obvious that slugs are being well fed.

There are commercial slug and snail bait in the form of both pellets and goop that will attract and kill snails and slugs. These products are very effective and are available at most locations where garden supplies are sold. One problem with this kind of product is the potential danger to aquatic snails that may inhabit a garden pond nearby. These commercial substances may also be dangerous to some other kinds of wild life.

Turtles, especially the terrestrial box turtles will eat slugs and can help control the numbers of these pests. Poisoned slugs in large enough numbers may also be dangerous to the turtles or any household pet that may decide to eat them. Keeping healthy box turtles in the garden can reduce the slug population somewhat and they should not be exposed to any of the various chemical fertilizers and pesticides. When nature provides help in the form of garden predators for controlling any kind of pest it is best to protect rather than to endanger that predator.

Another way to protect specific plants such as hostas from slugs is to place crushed egg shell around the plant. Instead of throwing away the egg shells from your morning breakfast, just rinse them, dry them in the air, crush them and store them in a jar or coffee can until there are enough to sprinkle around the plant to be protected. The slugs will not crawl across the crushed egg shell barrier because the little pieces of shell are too sharp and jagged for the slug's soft tissue. It really takes a lot of the crushed egg shell, especially if you have a lot of Hostas. Saving your egg shells throughout the winter will guarantee a large supply for early spring. This is a means of recycling, enriching the soil, and protecting plants such as hostas all at the same time.

Besides the crushed eggshell, pine needles can be used around the base of Hostas and other plants which the slugs like to attack. You can use needles from pruned pine, spruce and cedar. If you can obtain enough evergreen needles they will make a good mulch as well as slug deflector. Use it in combination with the eggshells or without.

There is a way to attract and poison slugs without buying the commercial stuff. Save some small flat plastic or metal jar lids, and place them on the outside of your eggshell barrier. Pour a little beer in the these containers before dark and when the slugs come out to feed, they will be attracted to the beer. They will drink the beer because of the yeast content, but the alcohol will kill them with no harm to turtles who may decide to devour the drunken, dying slugs.

When slugs are found out in the open, on the sidewalk or patio, killing them can be very messy. Scoop them into a container such as a can or used plastic grocery bag and put a little salt on them. This is a job that young teenagers are likely to find very sporting. A few adults do too. They will melt down in a matter of minutes and can be buried anywhere in the garden but not too close to plants that will not appreciate the salt..

All slug and snail remedies should be applied early enough in the spring when the leaves of the plants to be protected first begin to appear. Once young tender leaves have been attacked by slugs they will have an unsightly appearance and will remain full of holes for the entire growing season.