Some Slug Favorites

• Slugs may not seem like picky eaters when your favorite hosta or your strawberry patch come under attack, but there are some plants that slugs favor more than others. These plants must be protected judiciously. They include basil, beans, cabbage, dahlia, delphinium, hostas, lettuce, marigolds, strawberries and most any seedlings or plants with succulent foliage. Most vegetable plants are tender enough to need to be watched carefully for slug damage.
  
  

Slug-Proof Hostas

• Hostas are a favorite of both gardeners and garden slugs. The slugs chew holes in the leaves and make a general mess of the hostas, sometimes killing them. Because of this, gardeners have bred slug-resistant hostas that have tougher foliage and sometimes taste bad to slugs. Slug-resistant hostas include Krossa Regal and Love Pat.
  
  

Resistant Annuals, Bulbs and Perennials

• Annuals, bulbs and perennials are at a greater risk for slug damage because they generally lack a woody stem. Still, many are resistant or avoided completely by slugs. Some of the most popular plants in this group are daffodils, impatiens, begonia, geraniums, oriental poppies and bleeding hearts.
  
  

Other Resistant Plants

• Tender vines and ground covers are also at serious risk from slugs, because they are generally soft at ground level. Fortunately, some are relatively safe from slug activity. Slugs tend to avoid English ivy and periwinkle. Resistant shrubs include holly, lantana, lavender, cinquefoil, rosemary and viburnum. Trees are rarely affected seriously by slugs, but slugs do sometimes eat low-hanging fruits.