Hostas

[giveup]

I have got several Hostas in pots, but I would like to put a couple directly into the soil,but how would I keep slugs off them . The ones in the pots have got gravel on top with some slug repellent granules but I dont want to
put gravel on the soil.Any suggestions. Thanks in advance.

[bimbo123456]

Don't! impossible to keep the little bughgers away. And slug pellets are damaging to the bird population.

[Quassia]

I can't see them lasting in a border give .. The snails would have a banquet!

[Barmaid]

I agree with red helen. Crushed egg shells.

[DTCwordfan]

Have you access to any seaweed, giveup, slugs hate it - perhaps it is the saltiness......Pack it around 3-4 inches around the plants that you want to protect, making sure it doesn't touch them.

The slugs stay away, as the seaweed will dehydrate them. When it is dry, seaweed becomes very rough, so will still deter the slugs.

[SlackAlice]

Almost impossible I'd say. You can reduce the slug population by using nematodes but not entirely eradicate them. Some of the thicker leaved hosta's might do better buts it an uphill struggle.

[rabbitygirl]

All my hostas are new from last year, are out in beds, albeit raised ones, and barely a nibble in site. I use very large round stones to keep my hostas more upright and no leaves touch the soil.
I do use slug pellets but not randomly. I sprinkle a very few where the slugs and snails are likely to hide out. I don't know the facts about pellets being harmful to birds but I use very few and they are around til eaten by snails and/or they eventually disperse into the soil. They would be missing very quickly if birds are eating them around here. Slugs and snails like hiding under ground level leaves, rotting leaves, rubbish, etc. My garden is small, been completely redone and I think I managed to rid myself of many garden foes during the work.

[JMR27]

Fill an old pot - yoghurt tub would do - with beer and sink it into the ground. Slugs will nip in for a drink and drown.

[vegasmad]

http://www.wigglywigg...20ee5333EEDnWM1012759

[vulcan]

I find copper rings effective.
http://www.slugrings.co.uk/

[sidkid]

@rabbity - I don't think the birds will eat your slug pellets. I believe that the problem is the slugs and snails eat the pellets then the birds eat the slugs and snails.....

[rabbitygirl]

Well I've had a good readup on the slug pellet issue. I believed that slug pellets were blue to ward off birds, which appears to be true. I've also found that birds, frogs, toads etc., do not eat dead slugs and snails. Slugs eat very little of the pellet(s) and if a bird etc., did eat a newly poisoned slug the poison level would be insufficient to cause it harm. Conservation organisations have not found evidence that pellets have harmed birds. Hedgehogs may eat many slugs and snails however, but they will eat only live ones so a build up of poison in their systems is unlikely.
I use very few, and will go on using them in the sparing way I do. In fact if you use too many the slugs and snails are put off, dont eat any pellets, and promptly go looking for plants that are less guarded. I may look for the ferrous pellets in future tho which do not contain melaldehyde but are based on an iron compound. One of the benefits being the slug does off and buries itself or hides until dead so fewer slimey results and virtually removing worries for wildlife.

[woofgang]

Since I went insecticide free I get loads more birds in my garden and loads less slugs and snails, however I don't grow hostas. I have got friends however who have wonderful hostas. They put it down to having very acid soil which apparently the s and s's don't like. The other pace I have seen great hostas is in the gardens at Windsor great park, again very very acid soil.

[Clanad]

We've had good luck with slug pellets that are "pet" friendly here in the U.S. The brand is "Sluggo". If you want to try it, we've also had good luck with laying a two inch wide ring of sharp sand around the base of the Hostas. Any good playground sand will do. It should be maybe half an inch deep. Cut the lower leaves back to keep them from touching the ground outside of the ring of sand...