Slimy, slimy slugs. We are fortunate to have a native banana slug that closely resembles a ripe banana — and they generally live in wooded areas away from our homes. Unfortuantely, probably the major pest in the coastal garden is an import from Europe: the Brown Slug. These voracious creatures live out of site during the winter in shady, dark places. They will devour vegetable starts and flowers. They’re good climbers, sometimes greeting you at eye level next to your door. Because I garden organically, I avoid the use of chemicals for pest control. There is commercially available bait in any garden store. However, my favorite supplier of the very best slug bait is Escar-Go Supreme at www.gardensalive.com. The secret to success to using any slug control product is frequent and consistent applications. Start baiting before you even see them come out for the season.
