Slugs...aaargh

Poppyrog

I moved into this house last August and have done nothing in the garden yet :embarasse. We were out clearing some overgrown grass in some beds and noticed the ole slugs lurking where I wanted to plant a honeysuckle. The point of all my ramblings is, I don't want to plant anything there when we have slugs. We also have 2 cats and wondered if anyone had any tips of getting rid of the slugs or at least cutting down their numbers without the use of too many chemicals (because of the cats). The only trick I know is of eggshells, would I have to cover the whole area?

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there

Beer traps will help..just sink and old yogurt pot etc into the ground and pour in a bit of beer-they love it..slide in and can't get out
Also if you put some plant pots in the garden upside down by the morning there should be loads hiding in there..then simply tip them into a bag and in the bin of onto a bird table if you have 1

Once the overgrown bit has been cut back ..you will probably have less anyway as they love the deep dark wet stuff..so if you take it away -you shouldn't get as many
hope that helps a bit

potsofmoney_(I_wish)

My sympathies poppyrog, I was quizzing the tutor at our community allotment about this as my pansies have been massacred:mad: by the ahem... horrid things. Now she said that beer traps, whilst being effective can attract slugs from other gardens so inadvertently you can end up with more. I don't know personally and I also know of people who swear by them.
My mum was saying that slug pellets can be child and pet friendly.
Eggshells around the plants can help.
More costly is the copper tape stuff that you put around beds or pots and the nemotodes that you water in and they attack the slugs from underground (also didn't know that the blighters could eat things in the ground).
Good luck, it's also worth while doing a search on here as there has been at least one other thread on slugs and snails.

jennybridger

mine get treated to a drink of Mr T's value bitter! saves my veg, in recycled pots and jars of course!

BlondeHeadOn

I've just watered in my Spring batch of slug nematodes, which work a treat in my garden. One dose will last for months, especially if you apply them in this sort of showery weather. I have noticed a significant reduction in slugs and chewed plants each time I use the nematodes, so I think it's worth the price.

chatta

Its well worth going out in the evening after its dark with a torch. Its like slug world and I just pick them off and chuck them on a sheet of newpaper that I have put some salt on. In morning I wrap it up and chuck in bin yuk.

spirit

sprinkle salt on them and watch them implode.....

Poppyrog

Thanks for the tips, I don't think I want to try picking them up. Makes me retch just thinking about that! I think if all else fails I will try that last!!

Going to give the beer trap a go.

I have noticed them around our compost bin at night, stupid question but do slugs help in the compost? If they don't then I will try and get rid of them there too.

mardatha

Things that have worked for you re keeping slugs off plants ??

A_Clock

Frost! They hide away when it gets too cold, so this weather is perfect lol