We may receive a commission on purchases made from links .

For nurseryman , much joy comes from stepping back and seeing a garden with vibrant blooms , lavish leaf , and tidy planting area . But we love easily than to get too complacent . Upon closer review , we will likely spot weeds pop up among yearbook , wilted plants in underwatered areas , or holes left by slugs , pair with their wretched pickup trails .

Thankfully , slugs are well - love and predictable creatures . We fuck what they like ( moisture , yeast , cool temperature , and dark hiding spots ) and can utilize this cognition toget free of slugs naturally . One common root is to invite them out for a drinkable — make a beer trap for slugsand lure them to their expiry . But if the idea of tossing out a container full of intoxicated beat slugs seems grotesque , try a less hands - on solution that can be found in your pantry .

A brown slug is on a leaf that has holes chewed into it.

The same cinnamon that we love to eat up in baked good or odour in our holiday candles is the same ingredient that has been set up to deter slugs .   A2018 written report in Florida Entomologistevaluated various selection to protect plant from the Florida leatherleaf lick ( Leidyula floridana ) , including two sprays contain plant indispensable oils . The solvent show that the cinnamon oil – found product operate as a repellent and was toxic toward the bullet , while the product without cinnamon oil had no essence . Among all the product assessed by the study , slugs were most impacted by products containing cinnamon oil , hydrous lime , or   metaldehyde –   a chemical often discover in molluscicides that is   toxic to dog , guy , and other animate being .

Ways to use cinnamon against slugs

If you want to render using cinnamon powder to dissuade slugs , detect the pests ' favored hangout spot and pitter-patter the spice around individual plants or around the planting area . The slugs will be turn off by the feeling of the powder on their soundbox .   Keep an eye on the conditions prognosis , though , and put out more Cinnamomum zeylanicum if your area get rain or strong winds . However , base on the findings of the study above ,   cinnamon oil ( often used as aninsect repellent ) may give you good results . To produce your own slug repellent , fill a spray bottle with piddle and a teaspoon of cinnamon oil .

You could also try other essential rock oil that have prove to be effectual against slugs . In a2020 study in Journal of Pest Science , research worker studied the core of essential oils — including cinnamon — on the gray field clout ( Deroceras reticulatum ) , which ordinarily attacks seed crops . Although a 1 % concentration of cinnamon was lethal to slugs , thyme , spearmint , and pine oils of the same assiduity were significantly more toxic toward them .

One thing to remember is that although cinnamon has good   antifungal properties ,   confine its use to the soil around the plant when kill slugs — rather than the plant itself . Thyme , mass , and cinnamon essential oil color , being less refined , have the potency to damage sore plant more so than safer horticultural oils ( known as summer or ranking oils ,   likeBonide ’s All time of year horticultural and hibernating spray oil ) , which can safely be used on foliation .

A hand is squeezing a dropper above a bottle of brown liquid.