what else does ammonia kill?

15 years ago

today i sprayed the ammonia/water solution under all my potted plants that are sitting right on the ground ~~ ick, ick, ick ~~ but, my question is: there are lots of living *things* scrambling out of the way as the slugs melt ~~ will they (whatever *they* are) die too?

there were alot of really tiny, wiggley, whitish worms that i wondered if they might be baby angleworms? ~~ wouldn't want to be killing those ~~

does sluggo kill anything besides the slugs?

thanks, phyl

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

sassy7142
15 years ago
As I have posted before, last year while spraying with the ammonia/water solution I accidently sprayed a big toad.
It squirmed around like it was on fire.
I picked it up, brought it in the house and gave it a bath before releasing it.
I don't know if it recovered or died.
I do believe the solution really caused it a lot of pain.
papou
15 years ago
It depends on the concentration of ammonia. Diluted to 1:10 your first objective is to kill SLUGS and ammonia is the perfect method IMHO. Sure it might affect worms...but there's a lot out there underground.

Papou
Related Professionals
Wrentham Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tomball Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Brookline Landscape Contractors · Manhattan Landscape Contractors · Reisterstown Landscape Contractors · Grayslake Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Westland Driveway Installation & Maintenance · Ridgewood Fence Contractors · Ken Caryl Fence Contractors · Lake Zurich Fence Contractors · Sacramento Fence Contractors · South Yarmouth Fence Contractors · Spanaway Fence Contractors · Fontana Solar Energy Systems · Holliston Solar Energy Systems
esther_opal
15 years ago
"Sure it might affect worms...but there's a lot out there underground."
Papou

True and it affects the soil organisms it comes in contact with, the good news is the soil is a huge buffer and will neutralize the affect quickly and recover leaving a small charge of nitrogen. The nitrogen is not worth the bad affect if that is the only reason used.

So, it is affective as a slug killer with minimum ill affect.

IÂm waiting for the overall affect of sluggo type products and since sluggo is longer lasting it may cause problems that ammonia does not. The problem with chemicals is it is hard to get independent information.
phyl345
Original Author
15 years ago
sassy ~~ i had already read your toad/bath story ~~ it put a big grin on my face!

papou & esther ~~ thank you ~~ it sounds like i might indeed be killing *good* stuff too; but what's a girl to do with soooo many slugs?!?

i put sluggo out today ~~ i really get creeped out watching the *melting process* ~~ now i won't have to see them meet their demise ~~ thanks, phyl
esther_opal
15 years ago
Caffeine as a deterent or slug killer found to be ineffective.

Here is a link that might be useful: more on slugs
msjo
15 years ago
Some interesting ideas on Slug Patrol and control.

My largest garden backs up to the woods. Most of which belongs to a neighbor and it probably has 100 trees downed and other debris. It is not maintained, so it probably has a million slugs!

Ms Jo

Here is a link that might be useful: Slugs
esther_opal
15 years ago
My largest garden backs up to the woods. Most of which belongs to a neighbor and it probably has 100 trees downed and other debris. It is not maintained, so it probably has a million slugs!
Ms Jo

Slugs go where they find food, no more or less than most places. They are attracted to food sources and we know they have some method of finding food because we can attract and trap with beer etc.

Same as HVX, papou and others give good slug control methods.