Slugs overwinter in gardens: autumn steps can cut their numbers next year
Latvian gardeners are advised to start fighting slugs in autumn, since the first frosts do not solve the problem. Eggs and some young slugs survive winter in soil and sheltered spots.
Gardeners in Latvia whose plots were overrun by slugs this summer should not wait until spring to deal with them. Autumn is one of the most important periods for significantly reducing slug numbers in the next growing season. Some of the effective methods do not require chemicals.
Frost does not solve the problem
Many garden owners assume slugs will disappear with the first frosts. They do not: cold weather reduces their activity, but eggs and some young slugs can survive winter in soil, under leaves and in other hiding places.
During the summer these animals can gnaw lettuce, damage apples and strawberries, and wreck flower beds.
The Spanish slug
The invasive Spanish slug, an alien species, is a particular concern in Latvia. The Nature Conservation Agency (DAP) explains that a single individual can lay up to 500 eggs in a year. Egg-laying is most intense from June to September, but under suitable conditions eggs can still be found in gardens later in autumn.
For this reason, what is done in the garden in autumn can noticeably affect how many slugs appear next year. The source article promises specific tips on what to do now, but they are not included in the excerpt available here.
