Nemaslug has worked for me. My garden is very small so not too expensive. We had small white/grey slugs, mostly in the lawn. The borders are all mulched with bark. It worked like this:
2017: garden created from scratch (new build)
2018: noticed slugs, but nothing like the numbers others have mentioned, applied Nemaslug twice
2019: fewer slugs, applied Nemaslug once
2020: barely any slugs, no Nemaslug application
2021: found two slugs so far but will keep an eye out when the weather warms up
I keep the boxes in the fridge and wait for an overcast/drizzly day to apply. And it has to be warmer than now.
I used nematodes 4 years ago, don’t have a huge garden. They worked really well, I applied them in May, watered them in well. I still don’t have a lot of slugs. I think they are well worth the money.
First year of using and I've been impressed - I applied about 4/5 weeks ago and did a particularly heavy application where I intended to plant in the sweet peas. Going out regularly now each evening for 'slug watch' and I'm pleased to report whilst there are a few here and there I haven't spotted any near my sweet peas. About to apply a second dose.
It is relatively expensive, but I definitely favour this over pellets and having to 'dispose' of the ones I find.
I know this will sound slightly "eco-annoying" but try to encourage birds into your garden. Especially blackbirds - they luv 'em. Also, if you can hedgehogs. They gobble up a fair few in a night. Avoid things like bark mulch or anything else that provides a home for slugs n snails. Lastly, I would suggest not over fertilising your soil or digging it too much. I'm an unashamed no-dig gardener both for veg & ornamentals & its something I would urge anyone to try. For me it seemed to reduce pest damage. Not completely but noticeable. I'm also convinced it makes for tougher plants. Slugs like weak sappy growth. Oh, and don't use slug pellets. As they work by attracting slugs in the first place they make the situation worse in my view.
I used garlic water to protect a Canna in my Bristol garden. It seemed to work pretty well. It wouldn't be practical as an overall slug treatment, but I think it can help dissuade slugs from going for a particular plant. It's a bore to keep on top of.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
The best protection I've had this year has been a bone dry April. They were nowhere to be seen. Although things have obviously changed a bit since the start of May, there still isn't as many as there usually is.
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It is relatively expensive, but I definitely favour this over pellets and having to 'dispose' of the ones I find.
Avoid things like bark mulch or anything else that provides a home for slugs n snails.
Lastly, I would suggest not over fertilising your soil or digging it too much.
I'm an unashamed no-dig gardener both for veg & ornamentals & its something I would urge anyone to try. For me it seemed to reduce pest damage. Not completely but noticeable. I'm also convinced it makes for tougher plants. Slugs like weak sappy growth.
Oh, and don't use slug pellets. As they work by attracting slugs in the first place they make the situation worse in my view.