"Maybe they don't like caffeine? Or maybe it's the gritty texture?"
Haha, honestly, who knows with slugs? I've tried eggshells for the gritty factor—worked okay-ish, but coffee grounds sound cheaper. Do you think decaf would work too, or is caffeine the secret weapon here...?
Honestly, I've heard mixed things about the caffeine factor. A friend of mine swears by regular coffee grounds, says the caffeine messes with the slugs somehow. But another neighbor uses decaf grounds because that's just what she drinks, and she claims it still works fine...so maybe it's more about the texture after all?
Either way, coffee grounds are definitely a cheaper alternative to eggshells, plus they're great for your plants. And bonus points, your patio area will smell like a cozy café for a bit. Just sprinkle a thin border around the plants or patio edges—doesn't have to be thick, just consistent. Refresh it after heavy rains, and you're good to go. I've tried it myself, and while it's not a miracle cure, it does seem to slow the slugs down quite a bit.
Patio maintenance is always trial and error, but you're definitely on the right track here. Keep experimenting and you'll find what works best in your space.
"Either way, coffee grounds are definitely a cheaper alternative to eggshells, plus they're great for your plants."
I've tried coffee grounds too, but honestly, they didn't do much for my slug problem. Maybe my slugs are just caffeine addicts or something, lol. Weirdly enough, what actually worked better for me was copper tape around the pots. Apparently slugs hate crawling over copper—something about a mild electric reaction? Anyway, might be worth a shot if coffee grounds aren't cutting it for anyone else...
Copper tape, huh? I've heard about that but never actually tried it myself. Does it really hold up outdoors, like with rain and everything? I mean, I love the idea of a mild electric slug fence (sounds kinda sci-fi, lol), but I'm wondering if it tarnishes or loses effectiveness over time.
Funny enough, coffee grounds didn't do much for my slugs either. Maybe they're evolving into some kind of super-slug species immune to caffeine... who knows. But I still toss grounds around my plants anyway because they seem to help with soil quality at least—plus, it's a good excuse to drink more coffee.
Has anyone tried beer traps? A friend swears by them, says slugs are weirdly attracted to beer and end up drowning themselves in it. Seems a bit wasteful of good beer though, haha. I'm curious if that's actually effective or just another gardening myth floating around online.
Also, speaking of patio freshness hacks—anyone got tips for keeping moss from taking over between pavers? I've tried vinegar solutions but the moss always seems to come back stronger than ever. Maybe it's just me...
Copper tape actually does hold up pretty well outdoors, at least in my experience. I tried it a couple of years ago around my raised beds, and while it does tarnish over time (turning that greenish patina color), it still seems to keep the slugs away. I think the slight electric reaction stays effective even after it tarnishes, because I've noticed fewer slug trails on the plants ever since I put it in. The tape itself sticks surprisingly well too, even through heavy rains and some pretty harsh winters. Just make sure to clean off any dirt or debris occasionally, because buildup can reduce its effectiveness a bit.
Beer traps are legit too—I've used them before with decent results. I agree it's kind of painful pouring good beer into little dishes for slugs (I usually sacrifice whatever cheap stuff someone left behind at a BBQ). But yeah, slugs really do seem weirdly attracted to the smell. My only gripe is that you have to empty and refill them pretty regularly or they get nasty fast... plus, if you're squeamish at all, scooping out drowned slugs is not exactly fun.
As for moss between pavers, vinegar never really worked for me either. Moss just comes back stronger and greener somehow—it's like it thrives on being challenged, lol. What finally did the trick was sprinkling baking soda directly onto the mossy areas. It dries out the moss and makes the environment less hospitable for regrowth. It doesn't last forever (you'll probably have to repeat every few months), but it's cheap and easy enough that I don't mind too much.
Funny you mentioned coffee grounds—I swear my local slugs got immune to caffeine ages ago too! Still toss 'em in the compost though; plants seem happier overall, so why not?
