get ready for slug attack!!

invisiblecabbage

I have over 30 new strawberry plants that I managed to propogate from last years plants and would like to get them planted into my strawberry patch ready for summer and Pimms!! BUT ....last year the patch was beset by slugs. I tried beer (for the slugs not me!), organic slug killer, coffee, egg shells, stones, and the nightwatch with mother and daughter bonding during slug wanging (yes its spelt correctly!) contests. Now I am ready to attack from below, is it nematode worms I need to buy and rehome in my patch? Any advice welcome.

Kay_Peel

Lay a trap.

Leave a patch of hostas, or something equally tasty unprotected. Lay some tiles around them. Go out when it's dark, with a torch, wearing some disposable gloves. Lift up the tiles and they'll be clinging on for dear life on the undersides - remove them to the green dustbin. (or stun them by dropping them onto the patio before placing them high up on a bird table or branch of a tree for the pigeons and magpies' early morning breakfast).

Repeat every night.

During the day - scare them off.

A quarter fill a plastic bottle with water. Not too much water because you want it to roll around at the slightest breath of wind. Lay it on its side in amongst your precious plants. For some reason, the slugs don't like the movement of water in a bottle and they'll scarper .... to their favourite hiding place, underneath a tile next to the hostas.

markandkate

I go out at night with my killing kit, torch and secatuers. Each slug or snail I come accross I snip in half for the birds and frogs. I have been doing it now for a few years and there are definateley less.

balloo_2

Hi invisablecabbage I posted this on another thread earlier this month see if it any help to you

I Think this is the best way
You can LURE them to bait and destroy them.

1: BEER. :beer: I think most of us have tried this one and it is the favorite with the men... ok, this could be an opening but I won't go there... The method works best if you place the beer in a container just deep enough for the snails and slugs to drown in. Empty the container of dispatched critters every few days and replace with fresh beer for another go around.

2: YEAST. What, no beer? No problem. Mix a packet of yeast in a cup of water and place this mixture in your bowl.

3: FRUIT. Cut citrus fruit such as lemons, oranges or grapefruit in half and place the halves cut side down on the ground. Leave your "offering" overnight where the critters can find them. In the morning, toss the fruit and the attracted snails you will find under the fruit into the garbage or put them where the birds can have breakfast.

4: POTATO. Some slugs like potato. Take a big potato, cut it into two halves and place the pieces in suitable places, with the freshly cut surface downwards. In the morning collect the potato and critters for disposal. This "half potato method" is also good to bait several unwanted insects tryit!

5: DOG FOOD. Do you nave a pet dog? If so, try dampened dry dog food. Place the food under a propped-up pie tin. Each morning, catch the snails hiding under the pie tin and destroy them or feed them to the birds

A._Badger

Slug pellets. I'm sorry, but they work. Just follow the instructions and don't use too many.

Vedder2008

I have just purchased some copper tape to try this year as we were snided with them last year, also bought the slug traps but begrudge buying bear for them as I don't drink, so I will try the yeast in the cupboard and see if that works.

balloo_2

Vedder2008 wrote: »

I have just purchased some copper tape to try this year as we were snided with them last year, also bought the slug traps but begrudge buying bear for them as I don't drink, so I will try the yeast in the cupboard and see if that works.

Copper pipe around the base works too

angeltreats

balloo wrote: »

1: BEER. :beer: I think most of us have tried this one and it is the favorite with the men... ok, this could be an opening but I won't go there... The method works best if you place the beer in a container just deep enough for the snails and slugs to drown in. Empty the container of dispatched critters every few days and replace with fresh beer for another go around.

I have lots of bedding plants (that I planted out far too early but that's another story) and they were being absolutely devoured by slugs. My neighbour told me about the beer, so I put out a few ramekins and filled them with cheap Tesco beer at the end of last week, and now I have a huge collection of dead slugs! It's amazing how many of them we've trapped, even DH who has no interest in gardening is fascinated by peeking into the ramekins every morning to see how many we caught overnight. And the plants are doing a LOT better since I put the beer out.

We can't have slug pellets because our cat would eat them (she's like a magnet to poisonous things) so this is fantastic.

balloo_2

angeltreats wrote: »

I have lots of bedding plants (that I planted out far too early but that's another story) and they were being absolutely devoured by slugs. My neighbour told me about the beer, so I put out a few ramekins and filled them with cheap Tesco beer at the end of last week, and now I have a huge collection of dead slugs! It's amazing how many of them we've trapped, even DH who has no interest in gardening is fascinated by peeking into the ramekins every morning to see how many we caught overnight. And the plants are doing a LOT better since I put the beer out.

We can't have slug pellets because our cat would eat them (she's like a magnet to poisonous things) so this is fantastic.

The only thing about beer traps before the slugs die they sing and swear and generally make a nuisance of them selves. But what a way to go happy :rotfl: kidding

Orange_King

I use pellets too and they are definitely less numerous than in past years - I have learnt to keep topping up the supply in the key areas where they get through from other places and then a regular check under pots and stones.

Got 6 last night just.

ALIBOBSY

Think there has been a few threads on this, they are horrors aren't they. However there are some slugs that rather than eat your veggies only eat decaying vegetation ie compost heap or other slugs (only to be encouraged). In general if it is a smaller slug it is a baddy. Those big fat, black/brown ones tend to be the decaying veg cannibal ones.

I like the coffee grounds protection as it is an excuse to drink coffee or go in to your nearest coffee shop to ask if they have any waste grounds you can have (usually free).

ali x