snails

rheme

Try using porridge oats. Just sprinkle them around where slugs and snails go, they eat them and 'pass away'. Much better and probably cheaper than chemicals also animal and child friendly.

globbits

That's fascinating Rheme. What is it about porridge that does the business?

Zazen999

Sorry to be on the negative again here - but porridge oats are excellent for slugs and snails, they basically dry them out. however, porridge oats then attract the birds, so if they are not protected by netting, any seedlings get shredded by the little peckers. Lost a load last year - never again.

If it's not one thing, it's another.

A good deterrent for slugs/snails and full of good stuff is coffee grounds - used of course. Use as a mulch over areas just seeded, or around newly planted [especially leafy] crops - they don't like the graininess and keep away. Starbucks give them away nicely packaged up and free of course; even if they haven't got any out ask for them as usually they put them out on a friday and have them out the back for the rest of the week.

Any yes - there seem to be loads of slugs/snails this year. The ones that i do find get thrown onto the garage roof for the birds or into the canal - at least i hope the birds eat them or one day i'll have a very squelchy garage [eugh]

globbits

Is there any point in putting loads of salt out on the paths where slugs and snails go, or is it an old wives' tale? As I'm on a salt-free diet, it would make sense for me to use my salt in this way, rather than throw it out!

globbits

Can anyone tell me how to deal with brambles efficiently? I do love the blackberries that come from them, but fed up with the rapid growth of these thorny things! I was going to ask this on Planteria, but it's all !!!!!! and drugs!

thelurch

a good pair of scissors is what you need, just pick up the slugs and one snip and they are history then the birds can enjoy. It works with snails too as scissors will cut through the shells

globbits

Eeeeeek! Not sure I have the heart to do that! Perhaps I'll open a French restaurant and serve them up on platters!

peachespeaches

Collect them up after a rain shower or early evening and put them on your bird table (or just throw them away, having salted them). I dont have thrushes, mainly blackbirds and maggies but they disappeared so either they went on to live another day or they were eaten.

I must admit, despite two small children and a cat I use the pellets. The kids dont touch the pellets but I am very vigilant and only use them where I need them eg near my mini greenhouse and round new plants.

Becles

Sorry to hear Planteria is full of spam. I used to mod there, but baby takes up all my time now. As you know the site owner, you could maybe drop him a line and let him know about the problem. He's more likely to take notice of that, than your posts here.

Anyway, I hacked the shrub back to the boundary line (I have permission to cut back his stuff whenever I want!) and put some of these pellets down on my side:
http://www.growingsuccess.org.uk/detail.asp?ID=Advanced+Slug+Killer&cat=Slug_Control

That seems to have done the trick and theres no harm to my plants, children or animals either.

globbits

Thanks Peaches! I don't think it's rained this way for a few days, so gonna have to do an Indian Rain Dance! LOL