Replacement For Blue Slug Pellets

[youngmafbog]

Anyone found a decent replacement for the now banned blue slug pellets?

I must admit I never liked using them and always careful where I put them so wildlife couldnt get to them, also the dogs. I have tried many different ones but they never came anywhere near the effectiveness of the blue ones. Even tried the 'beer' traps and copper.

Any recommendations as I've nearly run out of the blue ones and the slugs are on the march. Already noshed some chillis and marigolds.

[Buenchico]

According to the Royal Horticultural Society, Nemaslug is the way forward now.

See
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=228
and
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?pid=506

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[rowanwitch]

Nematodes. Natural parasite / predator of slugs, used on an allotment no harm to wildlife. Also if you haven't got one a pond to attract frogs and toads,

https://www.nematodesdirect.co.uk/6-nemaslug

[rowanwitch]

I was too slow

[youngmafbog]

Yes, I'd seen them in the RHS site but they are pretty expensive so has anyone used them? (Yes I know there are user reviews but I'd quite like a more personal opinion if poss).

[youngmafbog]

Thanks for the replies though.

[alavahalf]

Yes I have used them and yes they do work.. if you follow the manufacturers instruction you will be applying them every 6 weeks.
In my case that was costing around £40 each time.
We are trying to produce top quality produce without it costing the earth so Nematodes/slugs are out.
Purely by chance I have discovered an alternative .. we are plagued by rabbits that eat everything. What I did was buy 100mtrs of scaffold mesh 1mtr wide and fix it to a series of poles around most of out plot. The lower edge being partially buried and held down with tent pegs from the pound shop. Not only does it keep the rabbits out but the slugs don't cross the nylon mesh.
We have done this for the past two years and without doubt it works.
We can grow lettuce out in the open, this is totally unheard of on our allotment as the slugs have a beano !
As a belt and braces approach, all of our egg shells get scattered along the inside edge of the mesh. The eggshells were collected by friends and family just by asking them to save them . We also add seaweed (which we can get locally) around much of our plants that need protecting. Once this has been in the sun it goes crisp and along with the salt content, we seem to have discouraged the slugs.
All in all it takes time and effort to collect the seaweed, but who doesn't like time at the beach ?
The mesh costs about £25 for 100 mtrs.
Eggshells cost nothing !

[Khandro]

Get and/or encourage hedgehogs.

[alavahalf]

Hedgehogs are just about extinct these days .. years ago when I was driving to work I would see dozens of them splattered on the road.
It is now years since I seen just one !

[Khandro]

If you want to see a hedgehog (alive) you'll have to get out at night.
I put some food out each night, but you have to make access into your garden for them. Pam Ayres wrote a nice little book, ostensibly for children (makes a nice present) but good for adults too. It entertainingly explains how to help them:

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[woofgang]

I use the ferric phosphate pellets which, used as directed, are said not to be harmful to animals or wildlife. You still have to use them sparsely and keep the pack away from animals as a large amount can still kill. I also encourage wildlife that predates on slug and snails

[Chipchopper]

I'm in the coffee grounds camp, it's a win-win

[Old_Geezer]

There is no effective answer to slugs & snails in my experience. Some places will advise various things, but your veg still gets covered and eaten. Hand picking and destroying might work if you're up to it. Water early morning, clear the garden of plantlife/detritus anything useful to wildlife, look under stones, wood, etc. to see if they are hiding from you there (but their probably on your veg).

[jno]

have they been banned already? I thought they had a year to go

[Togo]

Nice post from Alava @15.37. Just a tip, if you use the Nematode treatment it does not deter snails. They can be worse than the damned slugs and some are tiny. Same here, our Hedgehogs are gone and the Badgers that did for them can cause huge damage. Dare not use manure or the bleedin things are attracted and just break down fences and dig great big holes.

[Paigntonian]

My father preferred using crushed egg shells.

[Chipchopper]

As well as the caffeine in coffee grounds being toxic to slugs and snails, copper tape, that can be bought can also deter them, apparently it gives a mild electric shock, which they don't like to cross.

[webbo3]

we sold these in the garden centre where i use to work, we never had any complaints
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[Togo]

That looks worth a go Webbo. The mini snails have almost put be off growing Cabbages and Brassicas, that stuff could help. Noted.