How to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails with Coffee (2024)

If you're a gardener, you know that slugs and snails can be a real pain. These slimy creatures can wreak havoc on your plants, and it can be difficult to get rid of them. Some experts swear by using coffee grounds to deter these pests.

Coffee grounds contain caffeine, which is toxic to slugs and snails. When these creatures ingest caffeine, it can kill them. So, using ground coffee as a barrier around your plants may help to keep them safe from these critters.

Of course, you'll want to use Organic Coffee if you're going to try this method. You don't want to harm the environment more than you have to. And, it's always a good idea to test this method out on a small area first to see if it works for you.

If you're looking for an organic and environmentally-friendly way to get rid of slugs and snails, coffee grounds may be worth a try.

Table of Contents

  • Why Don't Slugs Like Coffee Grounds
  • Do Coffee Grounds Deter Snails
  • How to Use Coffee to Deter Snails and Slugs
  • Is Coffee Gounds Harmful to Plants
  • Other Ways to get Rid of Slugs and Snails
  • conclusion
How to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails with Coffee (1)

Why Don't Slugs Like Coffee Grounds

A common question that gardeners have is why don't slugs like coffee grounds. The answer to this question is actually quite simple. Coffee grounds are acidic, and slugs are sensitive to acidity. In addition, coffee grounds are sharp and can cause injury to slugs.

coffee grounds contain a chemical called alkaloid, which is poisonous to slugs. When slugs ingest coffee grounds, they suffer from severe dehydration and eventually die.

For these reasons, slugs will avoid areas where coffee grounds have been sprinkled. While coffee grounds may not be the most effective way to keep slugs out of your garden, they can be a helpful tool in deterring these pests.

How to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails with Coffee (2)

Do Coffee Grounds Deter Snails

Coffee grounds are often used as a natural way to deter pests like slugs. But how effective are coffee grounds at deterring these slimy creatures?

Coffee grounds contain caffeine, which is toxic to snails. When these creatures ingest coffee grounds, they become dehydrated and eventually die. Additionally, the sharp edges of coffee grounds can deter snails from crawling over them.

Studies have shown that coffee grounds are an effective way to deter snails (and other pests). In one study, coffee grounds were found to reduce the number of snails by up to 50%. In another study, coffee has shown to reduce the number of slugs by up to 90%.

Overall, coffee grounds are a safe and effective way to deter snails and other pests. If you have a problem with these creatures in your garden, spread some coffee grounds around and see if it makes a difference.

How to Use Coffee to Deter Snails and Slugs

If you're looking for a way to deter snails from your garden, coffee may be the answer. While most gardeners focus on using chemicals to kill or repel pests, coffee is a natural, inexpensive alternative that can be just as effective. Here's a quick guide on how to use coffee to deter snails:

  • Brew a strong pot of coffee, using twice the amount of grounds you would normally use.
  • Let the coffee cool, then pour it into a spray bottle.
  • liberally spray plants and soil around your garden, taking care to target areas where snails are likely to congregate.

Repeat the process every few days, or as needed.

Is Coffee Gounds Harmful to Plants

Many coffee aficionados enjoy using coffee grounds in their garden, as they can provide a valuable source of nutrients for plants. However, it is important to be aware that coffee grounds can also be harmful to plants if they are not used correctly.

In particular, coffee grounds can increase the acidity of soil, which can damage plant roots and make it difficult for plants to absorb nutrients. As a result, it is important to use coffee grounds sparingly and to monitor the pH level of the soil to ensure that it remains within the ideal range for plant growth.

When used correctly, coffee grounds can be a helpful addition to any garden; when used incorrectly, they can do more harm than good.

How to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails with Coffee (3)

Other Ways to get Rid of Slugs and Snails

There are a number of other ways that you can get rid of slugs and snails in your garden. Some common methods include:

Handpicking: This method involves manually removing slugs and snails from your garden. This can be time-consuming, but it is an effective way to reduce the population of these pests.

Barriers: You can also create barriers around your plants to keep slugs and snails out. Common barrier materials include diatomaceous earth, sand, and grit.

Traps: There are a number of different traps that you can use to catch slugs and snails. Some common traps include beer traps and boards with sticky tape.

Predators: Another way to control slugs and snails is to introduce predators into your garden. Common predators include frogs, toads, and ducks.

conclusion

Overall, coffee grounds can be a helpful tool in deterring slugs and snails. However, they should not be the only method used to keep these pests at bay.

In addition, coffee grounds can be harmful to plants if they are not used correctly. When using coffee grounds in your garden, it is important to monitor the pH level.

Author: Richard Smith

Partner at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company

Richard Smith is a Tea expert, entrepreneur, and owner of The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company. Part of a family of renowned Tea planters dating back four generations, he was born in Calcutta (Kolkata), India, where he spent his childhood between Tea Estates in Assam and Darjeeling.

In the late 1970s, having accumulated years of knowledge in the industry, Mr Smith and his mother, Janet Smith, moved to Kent, South East England, to establish a Tea business in the village of Pluckley. Their early days of packing Tea Bags by hand from chests of 10,000 prompted the creation of the company’s flagship infusion known as Pluckley Tea. It remains our most popular product today.

Mr Smith, who studied economics at London Polytechnic, has since specialised in over 1,000 types of Loose Leaf Tea - in addition to around 70 varieties of Roast Coffee - from around the world. These are now available at The Kent and Sussex Tea and Coffee Company, where everything is still packed by hand and fresh to order, not only to honour tradition but to ensure the utmost quality and consistency.

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How to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails with Coffee (2024)

FAQs

How to Get Rid of Slugs and Snails with Coffee? ›

Slugs and snails do not like coffee. Sprinkling coffee grounds around plant bases will act as a repellent, as does filling a spray with cold, strong coffee and spraying slugs. That said, coffee grinds are best added to the compost heap as their slow release nutrients will help to improve the soil in the heap.

Does coffee repel slugs and snails? ›

Slugs and snails do not like coffee. Sprinkling coffee grounds around plant bases will act as a repellent, as does filling a spray with cold, strong coffee and spraying slugs. That said, coffee grinds are best added to the compost heap as their slow release nutrients will help to improve the soil in the heap.

What do slugs hate most? ›

Slugs and snails are also known to have a dislike for plants with a strong fragrance, and lavender definitely gets up their collective nose. Whilst many humans adore the rich smell of lavender in their garden and around their home, garden-dwelling molluscs will be turned off.

What is the kindest way to kill slugs and snails? ›

Slug pellets with ferric phosphate

The slugs can no longer eat, so they retreat and die in 2 to 4 days. These pellets aren't harmful to humans or any other animals - not even if they eat the affected snails. So, this method is accepted generally accepted by organic farmers.

What smell do slugs and snails hate? ›

And they really dislike certain odors. So, plant some fragrant things in your garden box that they hate: like mint, fennel, geraniums, garlic, thyme, marigolds, and foxglove. But if there's a huge slug infestation, that won't be enough.

What plants should I not put coffee grounds on? ›

Avoid using coffee grounds on alkaline-loving trees, such as linden, ironwood, red chestnut and arborvitae. Coffee grounds used as mulch or compost inhibit plant growth on geranium, asparagus fern, Chinese mustard and Italian ryegrass.

How to get rid of slugs permanently? ›

How to get rid of slugs:
  1. Get plants on side. ...
  2. Remove, shelter & encourage beneficial wildlife. ...
  3. Make a beer trap. ...
  4. Create a prickly barrier. ...
  5. Create a slippery barrier. ...
  6. Lay down copper tape. ...
  7. Place a lure. ...
  8. Apply nematodes to soil.
May 28, 2022

What will slugs not crawl over? ›

Crushed Eggshells

The edges are sharp enough to hurt slugs should they decided to slide over them. So, when gardeners spread the eggshells around their beloved plants, the crushed shell pieces are to form a protective barrier that slugs and snails should know better than to cross.

Does WD-40 stop slugs? ›

Spraying WD40 on the outside of pots or planters will make them too slippery for slugs to climb. This can be effective for pots and planters that sit on a path or patio, but should be kept away from soil or other plants.

Does vinegar kill slugs? ›

Fill a Spray Bottle

For a hands-off approach, spray slugs and snails with a vinegar solution (1 cup water to 1/2 cup vinegar). The spray literally melts the pests before your eyes. Gardeners who use this method believe that the dead slug bodies help deter other slugs from moving into the area.

Does sprinkling salt kill slugs? ›

Can I Pour Salt on a Slug to Kill It? Pouring salt on a slug will kill it in a matter of seconds, however, it generally takes quite a bit of salt to do so. The salt kills the slug through osmosis – it draws water from inside the slug and rapidly dehydrates it.

What is the best slug repellent? ›

How to stop slugs and snails: what works?
  • crushed eggshells.
  • pine bark mulch.
  • copper tape.
  • sharp horticultural grit.
  • wool pellets.

Do tea bags deter slugs? ›

Certain compounds found in tea can act as a natural repellent for pests like slugs and snails. You can scatter used tea bags or sprinkle dried tea leaves around plants that are susceptible to pest damage to help deter them.

How to deal with slug infestation? ›

Simply fill a small plastic container (such as an old butter tub or yoghurt pot, with beer; leave this out overnight in an area where you know slugs are active. In the morning, you should find several slugs in the beer, and can empty and replenish the trap.

Can I put coffee grounds in my garden? ›

Coffee grounds are rich in nutrients, especially nitrogen. They also have some amount of other nutrients like potassium and phosphorous. Overall, this means that adding coffee grounds to your garden can work fairly well as a fertiliser. Coffee should be spread in a thin layer, rather than being clumped in one place.

Do hostas like coffee grounds? ›

Coffee grounds are rich in nitrogen, an essential nutrient for plant growth. Nitrogen promotes healthy foliage and overall plant development. When used as a mulch or incorporated into the soil, coffee grounds provide a slow-release source of nitrogen for hostas.

Does vinegar repel slugs? ›

Vinegar spray is widely used as a natural pest repellent both indoors and in the garden, so it comes as no surprise that it can be used to deter slugs too.

Do used tea bags deter slugs? ›

Tea bag trick can be beneficial to your garden

Tea and coffee sprinkled around plants can also help deter slugs and snails from getting at them as it is apparently off-putting to them.

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