Where can I get cheap copper tape to stop slugs?

BB1984

Hi all,

I've finally built my very first raised bed (very proud!) and would like to nail some copper tape around the top edge to stop slugs and snails munching on all my tasty veg.

I've seen rolls of the stuff for about £5 for 4m....but I need at least 24m so seems very expensive!

Anyone seen it cheaper?

Thanks,

BB

annie123

I get mine from ebay....lots of widths and lengths or multi rolls at good prices.



http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/GUITAR-PICKUP-CONDUCTIVE-ADHESI-COPPER-FOIL-TAPE-SHIELD_W0QQitemZ270549546325QQcmdZViewItemQQptZUK_Guitar_Accessories?hash=item3efe027555

24m for £16 inc postage

bromsgrovebarry

I am afraid that copper has become an expensive commodity.

foxgloves

I don't know if there's any way you can adapt this idea, but I wanted some of those copper pot rings for putting round the tops of containers and couldn't believe that they cost £8 for a pack of about 5 rings. I found a pack of 16 copper pan scourers for 99p in our local branch of the 99p shop to see if there was any chance I could unpiggle them to use. I found that if you piggle them in the middle, they unravel into what looks like a knitted copper tube. I found that I could pull this over my pots (not the big ones which wouldn't fit) and when I trialled it on a pot with a baby hosta in and the slugs and snails didn't manage even to get one nibble, I had to conclude that it was working! The only thing is that I can't think how you might turn all that spiky copper wire into something long enough to fit round a raised bed. I'd love to know, if you find a way.

laurel7172

Not much help to you now, but Wilkinsons had 75% off copper tape in their Autumn sale.

So if you don't get any now, check them later in the year.

misskool

If you can't shell out for the copper tape, put sharp sand or something gritty to stop them climbing into it.

mazinmouse

foxgloves wrote: »

I found a pack of 16 copper pan scourers for 99p in our local branch of the 99p shop to see if there was any chance I could unpiggle them to use. I found that if you piggle them in the middle, they unravel into what looks like a knitted copper tube. .

I like the sound of this - can I ask, are they proper copper or copper coloured - well either way.. they must surely create a surface no slug'd wish to cross.

jamma_2

I'm with foxgloves and her suggestion about using the copper wire pot scrubbers from the 99p store, I used them to cover my plant pots and they worked well, my hosta were nt touched, I think it's the rough surface and the copper the slugs dont like. good luck:)

olbas_oil

It's fairly easy to find old electric motors with loads of copper wire round the armature (broken washing machines, hoovers, windscreen wipers etc.)
Do people think that would deter slugs, or is it so thin that they'd cross it without hesitation?
Maybe two wires 1 cm apart attached to a 9v battery?

Optimisticpair

Some slugs live underground so they won't be climbing in they'll just be surfacing. Have to tackle those as you see fit but bear in mind a living slug is able to breed and produce more slugs. A deterrent only drives them to look elsewhere for a meal.

alanobrien

Copper wire works just as well as copper tape. I just strip out the wire from old electrical things and use that around pots where necessary. It works fine at no (additional) cost and is a nice bit of recycling