get ready for slug attack!!

invisiblecabbage

Kay_Peel wrote: »

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.

ooh, I feel like we should have some spooky music playing, is there a shower involved anywhere?

thanks for the tips, I'll try anything once (don't tell my husband though:rotfl::rotfl:)

invisiblecabbage

markandkate wrote: »

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.

Unfortunately I find it really hard to actually kill them (if they drown by mistake when I'm not about that seems ok)
Thnaks for the tip, I wonder if OH would be willing?

invisiblecabbage

balloo wrote: »

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.

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

:rotfl::rotfl:
Tried this, dog ended up with a bump on his head where the tin landed on him after he tried snuggling under to get his food!!

invisiblecabbage

Thanks for all the advice, that's given me lots more to try. As for the beer DS has asked if he could carry out a science investigation re slug preferences as part of his AS biology ..... for some reason his teacher said no! I think he just wanted an excuse to buy beer and drink the leftover (that's the stuff he doesn't put out for the slugs!)

Lincoln_Imp

Salt works wonders in keeping them away

Optimisticpair

Orange_King wrote: »

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.

I do the slug hunt method. I got 6 the other night when it was damp but it dried up and has been cooler so I only caught 2 yesterday.

meg72

invisiblecabbage wrote: »

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.

I have never managed in almost 50 years gardening, allotmenting etc managed to beat the little !!!!!!!!!!! pests Put your plants in hanging baskets. Tubs etc. They just love Strawberrys

Soubrette

Another vote for copper tape from me.

A few years ago I was growing peppers in pots and only had enough to cover a few of the pots to start with.

There was a definite difference in coppered and uncoppered pot.

I like the idea of the copper piping though as the tape is very expensive.

I'm too whoosie to kill them

Sou

summerday

Can anyone please suggest the cheapest place to buy copper tape/ piping?

Thanks

screamer

PMSL!!!

You're all murderers and sadists!!

Love it though. Can't stand slugs so any ways and means to kill the little f*****s is ok with me :-)

I ain't wasting precious beer on them though, and the salt idea is just disgusting because they look vile when they're all melted and stuff. Yuk!!