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Slug Catcher
It's that time of the year again. The hosta's are beginning to peak out of their beds and gardener's start to worry about the next slug invasion. Here is a handy-dandy, easy-to-make, little slug catcher that you can just pick up and discard when necessary. The slugs can crawl in but they can't get out. I learned of it from my mother, who heard about it from Jack Kent (The Potting Shed, Cayuga ON) on a gardening show. I thought I'd share it here, since that is kind of the point of this website.First of all you will need an empty, commercial water bottle. I prefer Echo Springs bottles because they snap together after they are cut. Others may work the same way, go with whatever you can.
First, off you need to cut the top off of the bottle. This is easily accomplished with any utility or X-acto knife. I usually cut at the first indentation on the bottle. By cutting down the center of this dent, I ensure that the bottle will snap together tightly and not need anything to hold it together.
When it is in two pieces, turn the top upside down and insert it into the bottom piece until it is all the way in. If it doesn't snap into place, you can try using a little tape, paper-clips, or needle and thread to hold it in place. Depending on your bottles and conditions some experimentation may be necessary. It's silly to mention but ... be sure that you take the cap off of the bottle before inserting it.
The finished trap will look something like this. All you have to do is pour a little coke (beer works too, but I have other less wasteful uses for that) into the trap and place it out in the garden. When it is full or you just want to get rid of it, pick it up and toss it - no mess, no fuss.Brett