Slugs!!!

[lizwizz]

I am trying to garden green but am getting really disheartened by the amount the little blighters eat. I planted a lovely angelica, but am now only left with stalks. There must be something I can do short of going back to slug pellets.

[lindapinda]

Hi Lizwizz,the thing that works best for me,is to put beer in little dishes about the garden.The snails and slugs are attracted to this and climb in.Get drunk,and drown.As a lot of them come out more late at night too,so i often go out with a torch,and pick them up,and take them elsewhere.Another tip,is to put used orange halves,upside down,in the garden.The slugs are attracted under them,and you can then collect them up.

[Clanad]

Another solution is to create a ring of sharp sand about 1 to 2 inches wide around each of your plants. The little critters can't crawl across it. Takes a little time, but works well for Mrs. C's hosta's...

[Lonnie]

I don't want to contradict lindapinda, her method does work, but i've found that beer traps, while doing away with the little blighters, actually attract them, as do pellets, they have to or they wouldn't work, so you get your neighbours slugs in your garden as well.

I've found that the best method, (others may have different ones), is Copper Tape or rings, these give the slugs an electric shock, and repels them without killing them, and that leaves them for the birds.

If your local gdn centre or hardware store doesn't sell them, you can get them online at www.queenswood.co.uk

[allotment10]

have you got room for a little pond to attract frogs etc? when we first got our allotment we had thousands of the little critters, but a few years ago we introduced the pond and now are virtually slug free.

[alan30]

Use biological controls

http://www.defenders.co.uk/

Excellent service, excellent product that really works with no harmful environmental effects.

[lindapinda]

I never thought of it that way Lonnie! I think you're right! It is amazing the number of those pesky little varmaints I pick out of the beer lol ! I'll have a go at the copper then!

[lizwizz]

Thanks. I've got a new pond this year, but no plants in, so no frogs as yet, hence not wanting to use slug pellets. I'll try a few of your ideas.

[Lonnie]

Also, i'd take note of what alan30 says, he's the expert, and has given me good advice before.

[moomoojaj]

Try putting garden bark around the plant. I have Hosta's in my garden, which slugs love to eat, but have no problems because the area is covered in bark.

I wish you good luck, because there is nothing more frustrating than having your favourite plant eaten alive.

[smudge]

Here's a few more ideas on how to deal with slugs/snails lizz.

[pega]

salt ? around plants

[allotment10]

can you believe they are this bad! www.uktvstylegardens.co.uk

horrible little blighters!