Slug problem

[lindapinda]

As an alternative to slug pellets,I tried using little trays of beer to catch the slugs and snails that ruin a lot of my plants.Problem is,yesterday I discovered a ladybird had been attracted to the beer,and had drowned.Anybody have any other alternatives,as although the beer has been very effective I don't want to decimate my ladybird population. I've tried catching them by torch in the dead of night and putting gravel and grit down,but nothing has worked as well so far as the beer.

[doctorsteve]

Well done for not using slug pellets, horrible things.  Ive tried nematodes that you buy in power form dilute and water on.  Seems to work very well but has to be reapplyed as new slugs hatch out, every six weeks or so.  I dont usual bother after the first application as later in the season plants tend to be more resistant to attack.

[brionon]

We had this problem, I read on the Net somewhere not to give them places to hide. so I started looking behind Pots , and features in our garden; In the 1st. 4 days we found over a thousand which we took to a field and let loose. We still look on most days and find a few. I think hunting is probably best.

[oxeyedaisy]

some people use broken egg shells around the plants..we seem to have inherited a lot of frogs and the slug population has diminished..i havnt got a pond they must be coming from the field at the rear of me..i used to be scared of frogs but welcome them now as my plants dont get eaten..

[normyc]

Try eggshells. Clean the shell after use, including removing the membrane, allow to dry, then crunch them up and sprinkle around your plants.

You may be bunged up for a while though with the quantity of eggs you need to consume.....

[lindapinda]

Thanks folks,i'll give these ideas a go.I've also since seen that you can try leaving ,little sticks as ladders for ladybirds etc to climb out of the pots!