Copper tape - does it work ?

Any

Hi guys,

How wide does the copper tape need to be? On Ebay you can get 2 types - 6mm and 30mm wide... and then one of the sellers says you need at least 30mm, otherwise it won't work.. Is that true?

ginvzt

I guess if the seller selling 30mm wide copper tape says it has to be at least 30mm wide, the it must be true...

I have used 4 or 5mm tape last year - the pots have survived.

Any

Ha ha,
they also sell 6mm, but say you are better off with 30mm.

ginvzt

Is it because slug can 'jump' up to 30mm?

I don't see a reason for this. I have put two or three lines of narrow tape around some of my pots - they looked nicer for me this way. But others have just a single strip, and it worked. Maybe my slugs just found something tastier?

Any

Well, the way it is supposed to work is that they get electric current (or how you technicaly call it) when in contact with copper, so theoreticaly if the tape isn't wide enough they don't get enough of a shock to deter them... that was my thinking behind their claim anyway.

Anyway I didn't find anything about the width elsewhere so it is probably rubbish.

Thanks for your kind reply.

Remember there are no stupid questions, just stupid answers.

Mrs_Domino

My sister turned duct tape around so the sticky side was facing out and tied it round her plant pots (double sided sticky tape may work too) and stuck 2p pieces to it in a continuous, gap free line all around the pots.

This worked fabulously. You may have to replace the tape every so often though as the stickiness may reduce if it rains.

A lot cheaper than copper tape!

iainsmum

Yep, copper tape works.
I stuck it to strips of old underlay and lay it round the outside of my (small-ish) vegetable patch and min-greenhouse, I don't think I removed more than 3 slugs all summer from either.

Rahbob

Slug tape worked very well for me last year.

Someone on this forum kindly recommended copper track as a cheaper version of slug tape. It isn't as wide but you get a lot more for your money.

So far so good....

ginvzt

I used copper track last year. I think I bought something like 30m for £5... That is why I wasn't feeling guilty putting two or three lines around the pots!

freezspirit

Last year I used cabbage collars, a big waste of money, lets just say the slugs 1 vs me nothing. So this year will 100% be using copper. Any type of copper I can get my hands on, copper from old cables, 1p /2p, copper tape and I might raid my art supplies to use copper foil sheets.