Slugs and Snails
Pest · Commonly affects: Lettuce, Hostas, French beans, Runner beans, Strawberries, Potatoes, Cabbages, Courgettes
Slugs and snails are familiar UK garden pests, most troublesome in mild, damp weather and on sheltered allotments. They feed after dark and can overwhelm seedlings, young vegetables and soft-leaved ornamentals. Their damage is often sudden because they hide beneath pots, boards, weeds and dense foliage during the day.
How to identify it
Slugs have soft, elongated bodies without an external shell; snails carry a rounded shell. Most garden species are 10 to 100 mm long when extended, in shades of brown, grey, black or orange. Look for irregular holes with smooth edges, grazed seedlings and silvery slime trails over soil, paths and leaves. Damage is usually most obvious after wet nights. Check beneath pots, boards and mulch, or inspect plants at dusk with a torch.
Damage
They chew holes in leaves, stems, ripening fruit and tubers, but seedlings may disappear completely. Young lettuce, hostas, beans and brassicas are especially vulnerable. Slugs can hollow out potatoes and spoil strawberries resting on damp soil. Repeated feeding slows establishment and may leave gaps in rows that are difficult to re-sow.
Prevention
Keep seedbeds and planting areas tidy, removing dense weeds, loose debris and hiding places close to vulnerable plants. Raise pots on feet, water in the morning and avoid leaving boards beside seedlings. Use physical protection such as collars, copper tape on containers and barriers around prized plants. Grow sturdy plants before planting out, and use cloches or fleece until seedlings establish. Make space for frogs, hedgehogs and birds by retaining varied, wildlife-friendly garden habitats.
How to manage it
Collect slugs and snails at dusk or early morning, concentrating on recently planted areas, and repeat regularly during wet spells. Hand-pick from under pots and other refuges, then move them away from crops. Refresh collars and copper tape so they remain effective, and elevate vulnerable fruit. Biological nematode controls can be used when conditions suit them. Continue encouraging frogs, hedgehogs and birds, while protecting young plants with fleece or other barriers.
Slugs and Snails: frequently asked questions
How do I identify slugs and snails?
Slugs have soft, elongated bodies without an external shell; snails carry a rounded shell.
How do I prevent slugs and snails?
Keep seedbeds and planting areas tidy, removing dense weeds, loose debris and hiding places close to vulnerable plants.
How do I get rid of slugs and snails?
Collect slugs and snails at dusk or early morning, concentrating on recently planted areas, and repeat regularly during wet spells.
General guidance for UK home gardens and allotments, focused on prevention and non-chemical control. For a confirmed diagnosis, the RHS or a local garden centre can help. Page updated 19 Sep 2026.