Master Gardener: Protecting squash and cucumbers from slugs and snails

Q: I want to direct seed squash and cucumbers, but last year all my seedlings were eaten by snails and slugs. Is there a way to protect them from a similar fate this year?
A: Snails and slugs are sneaky little mollusks that do all their dirty work at night. As soon as a young plant pops up out of the soil, it’s devoured and all you’re left with is a silvery trail of death.
Starting seeds indoors and allowing them to grow a bit before planting them outside is one way to avoid this pro