What are you guys doing with all these slugs?

Leif · 26 August 2012 at 7:35AM

jollyanna wrote: »

I've now got Swiss chard and turnip in there, grown from seed, and apart from Mr Blackbird having a good root around and disrupting my tidy rows, it is looking O.K.
Could red Ants be a deterent to slugs ?

No idea, but slugs are not keen on chard. They ate all of my chinese cabbages, but left the nearby chard. Having tried the chard, I can see why.

cyclonebri1 · 26 August 2012 at 11:02AM

jollyanna wrote: »

I have a bucket with rainwater and chuck S&S in there as I find them. They have the option to crawl out if they are fit !

I my god,:eek:, survival of the fittest, you'll be breeding a new strain of super slugs:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:;);)

Took out the last of the radishes today, from a raised bed, not one that they haven't had a nibble at.

xMonsoonx · 27 August 2012 at 9:07PM

i plant garlic and chives dotted around my plants, seems to keep them at bay - also every few weeks i send the OH on an after dark collection, put them in a old tub and put them out for the bin men!

stumpycat · 28 August 2012 at 12:35PM

I had been feeding them to the chookies, but I've only got 2 elderly hens at the moment and they're not really interested. I was trying beer traps with cheapo beer, but it obviously wasn't strong enough as the slugs would drink a skinful then go on a drunken rampage! :eek:

I'm going to try White Lightning or other strong cider next... anyone want to join my campaign to get some kind of 'Slug booze' to be exempt from the minimum pricing of alcohol when it starts in Scotland? I'm not too sure on how you prove it's for slugs though...
Finally, I'm getting some Brewers' yeast & going to try & make my own Hosta & Cabbage special! :beer:

cyclonebri1 · 28 August 2012 at 6:49PM

Just drink the booze and forget the freekin slugs, I think that's the only way:beer:

Lady_Aga · 29 August 2012 at 11:20AM

I was adamant that I was going to be organic, use peat-free, do the old beer trap etc. AND THEN THE LITTLE ************ ATE MY DAHLIAS AND LETTUCES
The blue pellets work a treat.

charlotte_rose · 29 August 2012 at 6:38PM

kill kill kill in soapy water, bag and bin the pesky sods

raven83 · 29 August 2012 at 10:12PM

Lady_Aga wrote: »

I was adamant that I was going to be organic, use peat-free, do the old beer trap etc. AND THEN THE LITTLE ************ ATE MY DAHLIAS AND LETTUCES
The blue pellets work a treat.

Don't get me started on Dahlias, they have devoured my 2nd one this year, one of my favourite flowers has been left in bits

But I have been told by a dear friend of mine (not sure if this has been posted already) that oats are meant to kill slugs and deter them. Apparently if you put a wall of oats around your plants this will stop slugs and will kill them. I am yet to try it, I am going to buy another Dahlia and give it a go, see if it works

alba7 · 31 August 2012 at 2:22PM

Sweet stout works really well in beer traps - I buy the cheap stuff from Aldi. The first day I put the traps out, the slugs were travelling at great speed from all over the garden. One even seemed to pole vault from a neighbouring marigold :eek:. So far, I've caught 1,041 slugs. Some the size of small snakes.

The only problem is emptying the pots. I only just manage not to throw up each time.

Eenymeeny · 1 September 2012 at 8:51AM

The current broadcast of Beechgrove Potting Shed (BBC Radio Scotland) invited listeners to call in with their slug removal tips. One listener recommended a mix of 2 pints of vinegar to a gallon of water which he sprayed across his lawn. Apparently it creates a 'Pied Piper effect' he said that he just follows the slime trail and dispatches them into the wheelie bin. (Too good for them I reckon, maybe adding salt to the recipe would do the job in one?)