July 30, 2025, 3:06 pm | Read time: 2 minutes
Anyone with a garden knows the problem of ravenous slugs all too well. As soon as the young greens sprout, hungry slugs appear and feast on tender plants. Especially in wet summers, true slug invasions develop, against which conventional defense methods often only help to a limited extent. A surprisingly simple and eco-friendly method against slugs promises relief here–the so-called sacrifice plate. myHOMEBOOK gardening expert Franka Kruse-Gering explains what it’s all about and what to keep in mind.
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What is a Sacrifice Plate?
It is a targeted distraction tactic where slugs are deliberately attracted and kept away from vulnerable beds. Slugs are lazy, and rather than exerting themselves to reach crunchy lettuce, they will settle for a slice of cucumber that requires no effort.
What You Need for a Sacrifice Plate
Basically, you only need a plate or a similar surface and vegetables that slugs particularly like.
The vegetables are chopped and arranged on the plate, and you can watch as the slugs are distracted from the actual bed and crawl to the sacrifice plate to enjoy the buffet.
To avoid mold or dried-out vegetables, the plate should be replenished daily. Slugs will leave dried-out vegetables behind and prefer the crunchy lettuce from the bed.
Oatmeal to Offer the Slugs Something
To be on the safe side, don’t forget a treat on the sacrifice plate. Slugs love soaked oatmeal. Add a few flakes with water and place the mixture on the plate. Slugs can’t resist that.
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Won’t I Attract Slugs from Other Gardens?
Don’t worry. Slugs from neighboring gardens are attracted by intense smells. A beer trap, for example, is not only deadly for the slugs, as they die painfully, but the smell of beer is so intense that slugs from surrounding gardens are attracted. Fresh vegetables do have a scent, but not nearly to the extent of beer.
What Happens to the Slugs Afterwards?
The slugs are collected from the plate and released as far away from the garden as possible. A walk is healthy and clears the mind, so why not take a short stroll in the evening and release the slugs at the city park.