How to Use Beer in the Garden to Get Rid of Slugs, Revive Grass, and More

Pouring your beer in the dirt can be a waste of money—and, frankly, good beer. However, if you have some leftover brew lying around, it can be used in the garden.

However, don't start throwing your hops around just anywhere. While the nutrients in beer might be beneficial in a some ways, they can also be detrimental if overused—especially on fragile plants. 

Here, we spoke to experts about how you can put last night's dregs to good use. The same advice applies to gardening with beer as drinking it, however: practice in moderation.

Distract Slugs and Snails

Kathi Rodgers, owner and writer at Oak Hill Homestead, says her favorite way to use beer is to attract and kill the slugs that invade her strawberry patch. “[They] love the cool soil and evidently the taste of those sweet berries,” she says. “But they love beer even more.”

“I add beer to a shallow bowl, filling it about half full, and set it down into the soil in my strawberry patch,” she continues. “Setting it into a shallow hole, with the top of the bowl at about the same height as the soil, makes it easy for slugs and snails to crawl in and drown in the liquid."

Try not to dilute the beer when you water your garden. And, of course, empty and refill it after rainfall.

Spot-Treat Fungal Infections

If you’re noticing signs of a fungal infection on your plant leaves, then you can use a soft cloth or napkin dipped in diluted beer and wipe down the affected areas. Reapply every few days as needed, but consider using a stronger fungicide if you don’t see results. 

Revitalize Brown Patches of Grass

Beer can help a struggling patch of grass. First, dilute the stale brew with water, then add it to a sprayer so that you can equally distribute it across the necessary spots.

Be sure not to overdo it, though, or you may attract unwanted pests.  

Fertilize Roots

Feel free to give leftover beer to your houseplants—just make sure to dilute it first. Most beer is made up of helpful bacteria, as well as yeast, potassium, calcium, and magnesium. These beneficial nutrients can feed the roots of your plant and help ward off fungal infection. 

Be sure to only use the liquid on the roots and soil. And remember: Water is still the best option for hydrating your plants.