Hi Gem, yes, the combination of a very warm April followed by a moist summer meant that slugs and snails had a field day last year ! Obviously there are pellets available but if like me your not keen on that approach you might like to try 'Liquid Sluggit' which you mix up in a can and water it on. It means that its safer for children and animals but you do need to re-apply it after rain as it
does wash off. What I do for my hostas etc is to wait until its been dark for an hour, go out and literally pick up the slugs and snails and dispose of them.
Obviously, this only works on a small scale but if its one plant that your protecting it might be an option. Another very good way is to use those 'slug pubs' filled with beer, the beer attracting the !!
There are also a myriad of 'in' methods of controlling slugs with using copper wire/tape, coffee grounds, egg shells, sharp sand etc etc. but if conditions suit, very few will work !!
Lannerman.