What’s been eating my courgette?

bouicca21

Tonight’s patrol found and killed another 6 mini slugs. Opinion on copper tape and wool pellets seems to be divided and I don’t want to use slug pellets in case they poison the birds too.  I have feeders up and they attract lots of birds.  I haven’t spotted any thrushes but I’ve seen a wren looking around the pots, and she might well want to dine on the  mini slugs (the smallest was probably less than a centimetre).

YoungBlueEyes

Could you put some gravel/stones/sand round the bottom of the pot, stop them slithering their way up? I haven't tried the copper tape but for £1 I'd give it a go instead of pellets (bird lover here too).

ArbitraryRandom

Re the blue pellets - I tried some to protect my courgette plant and I swear they attracted more slugs. It was fine when there were pellets (they ate them quite happily), but didn't stop nibbling of the plant when the pellets disintegrated in a few days rain or when they were all eaten in one area. I might not have been using enough or should have replaced them sooner (user error), but I was also trying to avoid 'heaping' them in a way dangerous to the local wildlife. 

Re copper tape - It probably depends on the tape (copper is reasonably expensive so how much is there on a £1 product? Not that price is the best indication of quality generally, but I can see profit margins not allowing for much actual copper) and how determined the slugs are (it might be it discourages them, but animals will put up with something uncomfortable if they're hungry enough). 

I've not tried it myself but I've seen tests like this which suggest the right product (not endorsing this specific product) might have some benefit when used in conjunction with other deterrent methods. 

https://youtu.be/fyr1ax4V5To