Are Slugs Damaging My Rhubarb?

Established rhubarb is relatively slug-resistant — the thick, leathery stems and large tough leaves are not particularly attractive or accessible to slugs compared to softer vegetables. However, there is a specific window of vulnerability that gardeners should be aware of: the early spring period when rhubarb buds are just pushing through the soil and the first young folded shoots are emerging. At this stage, the tender growth is accessible and slug damage can remove growing points before they have a chance to develop.

What slug damage on rhubarb looks like

Slug damage on emerging rhubarb shows as irregular holes in the folded young leaves as they unfurl, or in severe cases the complete removal of a young shoot just above soil level, leaving only a stump. Slime trails (visible in early morning before they dry) and the typical ragged-edged holes confirm slug activity. Damage is most likely during mild, wet periods in February and March when slugs are active but rhubarb growth is still at the tender emerging stage.

Managing slugs around rhubarb

Apply wildlife-safe ferric phosphate slug pellets sparingly around the crowns in early spring when shoots are first emerging. A 3–4cm gritty mulch immediately around (not on) the crown base adds a physical barrier that slugs are reluctant to cross. Nematode treatments applied to moist soil in late February provide biological control for the six to eight weeks of peak vulnerability. Once the stems have thickened and hardened, slug pressure becomes negligible.