Living near water, I had hundreds of slugs in my yard.  I found that spraying them with a mixture of vinegar and water (1 cup water 1/2 cup vinegar)  works wonders.  The slugs literally melt before your eyes.  By leaving them where they lay, it also discourages other slugs.  The acidity of the mix has not harmed any of my plantings, in fact many acid loving plants do better.  The slug population is remarkably decreased.

Joline Frazier

I live in a wooded area with lots of Disney characters as neighbors, such as deer, foxes, woodchucks and raccoons.  I also have lots of hostas.  In order to keep the neighbors from using my hosta beds as a salad bar, I put out dog hair around the hostas and any other tender tasty flower buds.  When I groom my beautiful Afghan hounds, I keep the hair that comes out in the brush.  Then, in the spring as things are greening up, I go out and make like the Easter bunny, hiding tufts of dog hair among the emerging greenery.  Every couple of months I replenish the critter repellent.  Works like a charm.

Lynne Miller

Plant allium (chives, garlic, onions) as companion plants surrounding or bordering the plants which are susceptible to aphids. The allium has to be in the ground year round. This method has kept my garden aphid-free for 15 years, even though it is neighbored by aphid-laden trees.

Sweetie Rains

If you have a sweet gum tree, or have access to one, you can have a free, environmentally safe way to keep slugs away from your hostas.  Just spread a good amount of these prickly balls under the hosta leaves.  The slimy, soft slugs will not crawl over the sweet gum balls.  You can also use them around other flowers to keep rabbits away.  Many animals find it uncomfortable to walk on these "porcupines."

Carla Litmer

I have a friend who put banana peels in the soil around a magnolia tree that was not doing well. It is now doing much better and putting on blooms for the first time.

David W. Bollinger

I live in the middle of an oak forest. We do not rake in the fall at all. The oak leaves cover all my plants and keep them warm and toasty all winter. It is March 5th and my plants are blooming under all the leaves. On sunny warm days I uncover them so they can soak up some sun. By the end of March many of my flowers and hostas are at least 9" tall. By then its safe enough to uncover everything. This is not a new idea, its what nature has taught me. Leave the leaves until spring.

Margaret Razus

I periodically have a battle with birds (mainly Grackles) biting the heads off my annuals. (I'm assuming they are looking for insects).  After having to replace my annuals, I decided to try the bird netting used to cover fruit trees. First, I cut squares of netting and then cut a hole in the center of the netting and place over the flower.  I anchor the netting with pebbles, mulch or dirt.  The birds do not like walking on the netting and my flower budget is happy!

Kathryn Palmer

To keep slugs away, place cracked pecan shells around your plants.  The shells are too sharp and jagged for the slugs to slither over, and they make an attractively colored and textured mulch in your beds.  Works like a charm with no dissolved slugs left behind!

Victoria Elder

To keep rabbits from eating your tender Spring plants:  Make a mixture of red pepper, crushed garlic and water and simmer for several hours.  Let the mixture cool, strain through cheesecloth and pour into a sprayer.  Environmentally friendly, inexpensive, and it works!

Anonymous