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        Your plants are beautiful.  You've been watering, fertilizing and piling on mulch.  But suddenly holes are appearing in the leaves, seedlings are devoured and there's no sign of the critter doing the damage.  When it gets dark, take your flashlight out and examine your plants.  Chances are you are going to find slimy shell-less snail-like critters crawling all over your plants.
       They are slugs.  They do their damage at night or wet, gloomy days.  During the daytime they hide under nice moist mulch, in cracks between walks, and in the soil or foundations.  They lay their eggs in such places and under the right conditions their population can explode.
        Slugs are not insects, so insecticides will be of little help.  Slugs are mollusks related to clams or oysters.  They thrive in moist conditions and watering in the evenings will promote the problem.  It will help if you stir your mulch, plant litter and soil it will help disrupt reproduction.   You can control them most easily with baits.  There are two types, the first contains Metaldehyde, and it works and is usually least expensive.  It should not be applied where children, pets or birds might eat it.  It can be applied to moist soil and covered with a board to hide it.  Slugs and snails are attracted to its scent and will seek it out.  The second bait is called Sluggo, and is quite safe.  After a short time any not consumed will turn into fertilizer. 
        If you want to try organic controls ask your gardening professional.  Like the common cold, the methods are numerous.