Please note that this post may contain affiliate links. You can read my full affiliate disclosure at the bottom of the page.
When it comes to Primroses and slugs there is some conflicting information out there. Do slugs really eat primrose plants? The answer is yes and no. If you have commercially bought primroses, then more than likely holes appearing in the leaves are from slugs or snails. Native primrose in the wild however fares better against slugs. But if what is eating your primroses is munching down on the flowers themselves then that is most likely due to earwigs.
Do Slugs Like Primroses?
Slugs do like primroses, and will often eat the leaves of these plants in the garden. Native primroses usually aren’t eaten by slugs. So if you can plant primrose that is native to your area you might have better luck against slugs for the season.
Primrose and slugs share a love of shade and coolness. So often you will find that slugs set up shop in areas where primrose will flourish. This can cause an overpopulation of slugs easily and result in more foliage being a food source for the slugs.
How to Keep Slugs Off Your Primroses
Plant Native Primrose
If you live in an area that has native primrose species, then planting these in the garden can help cut down on the amount that would be eaten by slugs. Often gardeners find that the slugs will only eat the primrose that they bought commercially and planted in the garden while the native primrose plants close by aren’t touched.
Slug Bait
Using an organic ferrous based slug bait can help control the number of slugs around the garden.
Slug Traps
Slug beer traps and slug yeast traps are a great way to help control the population. But it will require a bit more work than using slug bait.
Before the evening time, place some beer or some yeast in water into shallow dishes or aluminum pie plates. Put the plates in your garden to where the soil is level with the lip of the dish. The slugs will be attracted to the trap and fall in. In the morning you can gather up the plates and dispose of the contents.
Repeat this several times a week to control the number of slugs in your garden.
Diatomaceous Earth
Diatomaceous earth is used as a border around your plants. Due to the irritation it causes the slug’s body they tend to not cross it.
The drawback of this is that you will have to replace the border often, including every time that it rains.
Copper Tape or Copper Rings
Copper is known as a great way to keep slugs off crops. It can work well, but it can be expensive if you are trying to protect many plants and a large area.
Related Articles About What Slugs Like to Eat in the Garden:
References:
- Primrose (Primula); The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; https://portal.ct.gov/CAES/Plant-Pest-Handbook/pphP/Primrose-Primula
