Slugs!!

s_glover

This year is the first time I've really encountered any probelms with slugs. A combination of the wet weather and moving to a new house which seems to have more of a slug issue!

They've been munching through loads of our veggies and flowers and I've just about had enough o fthem. The worst affected area is next to a fence, the other side of which is a piece of unused land which is quite overgrown in places and I think ost o fhte slugs and snails come from here.

I resorted to putting down slug pellets for the first time last night and I popped out there this moring there was slime everywhere and loads of slugs / snails. my little knowledge says this is because they've been attracted by the pellets ad they act to dehyrate th slugs by making them produce more slime. I'm guessing there will be lots of dead ones later?

My question is would I be best off putting some slug pellets over the fence to try and keep the little beaties out of the garden entirely rather than enticing them in? Maybe putting just a few pellets along the bottom of the fence as I'd really rather not be having to clear loads of dead slugs and snails from the veggies.

mrbadexample

s_glover wrote: »

My question is would I be best off putting some slug pellets over the fence to try and keep the little beaties out of the garden entirely rather than enticing them in?

My instincts would say no. You need to deal with the ones already inside - there will be millions. Or more.

djohn2002uk

I would sprinkle some along your side of the fence and around the plants. They only need to be sprinkled sparingly. A pile in one place will still probably only kill one or two the same as one or two pellets would.

Farway

mrbadexample wrote: »

My instincts would say no. You need to deal with the ones already inside - there will be millions. Or more.

I agree with Mr BE

The pellets are not attracting them from far & wide, they are the ones you already have on your side

You do not have to clear dead ones, slugs just dry up, and with snails the fly maggots or birds soon clear & you only have empty shells, do not make work where none is required

BTW before any warns against it, all the birds will not drop out of the sky or hedgehogs rollover & die by eating poisoned snails etc, different metabolisms and species

Davesnave

Farway wrote: »

BTW before any warns against it, all the birds will not drop out of the sky or hedgehogs rollover & die by eating poisoned snails etc, different metabolisms and species

Cue angry yogurt weavers in open-toed sandals........:cool:

I agree with djohn, however, that one needs very few, so don't overdo it.

forgotmyname

I do the midnight slug/snail patrol method.

Decent head torch and a small tub of concentrated salty water.

ljonski

Please use biodegradable ones that are harmless to birds.

forgotmyname

Bio-Degradable slugs, Yep the salt does that

Maybe its the small biy in me, But i still enjoy dropping slugs in a salt bath.

And setting fire to the ants nest, Because they killed my rhubard plant. Everyone says you cant kill rhubarb, Well the ants know different.

faerie~spangles

This is what I use:

2 or more full heads of garlic. (not single cloves)

Boil the garlic in a pint or so of water

Cool and strain.


I divided the resultant garlic water into two 2 litre milk containers, topped up with tap water and decant into a spray bottle as and when I need it.

I made this last year but didn't use it, a couple of weeks ago I sprayed the runner beans, courgettes, sweetcorn, roses, sage and hostas.

Nothing is munching them:T

[Deleted User]

has anyone had any experience of using shredded cardboard around strawberries? I have just shredded a lot of card for the compost heap and have an inkling that they might be better under the strawberries

I am sprinkling a few pellets every day at the moment and they vanish overnight so are being eaten. It is slugs or my food and my food wins each time.

jpno12

I bought two slug traps from Poundland and filled them with Lager before I went away on holiday for a week.

Came back to about 60 dead slugs handily contained. Amazing results, but as I have a dog and kids can't do it all the time.