Keeping Slugs Off Strawberry Plants

[thesecondlaw]

Has anyone got any idea as to best thing to use to keep slugs and snails away from strawberry plants? I've heard straw between the plants is ok. I don't want to use pellets, in case they harm my pets. Thanks

[mrs_overall]

Beer traps

[rockyracoon]

Crushed egg shells have worked for me in the padt, probably too late for you to start collecting them now though.

Are the strawberries in pots or in the ground?

[Daffy6543]

Buy some slug killing nematodes. You mix with water and soak the soil.
Amazon.co.uk User Recommendation

[thesecondlaw]

They are in individual pots at the moment, rocky, but I have prepared a decent size bed for about a dozen plants. Thanks for all suggestions, very quick

[rockyracoon]

Apparently, spraying WD40 on the pot stops snails climbing up the sides. Once planted out, I'd do what Daffy recommends.

[rockyracoon]

Just found this on a Gardening Forum, might be worth a try

"What I do is make my own garlic spray.......... Boil up some garlic cloves. when they are done sieve the mixture into a jug and add to watering can of water.... you can make it as strong or as weak as you wish........ it stops all slugs, snails and bugs and its organic too!!!! Give it a try and let us know what you think."

[thesecondlaw]

I've got some garlic, so I'll give that a go. Thanks again

[Chipchopper]

Copper wire or tape is another method, that may be worth looking into.
Apparently the copper caries a small electric charge the the slugs etc don't like to cross.

[hammerman]

Beer traps are the best i've found but empty them regularly as dead slug and warm beer is not a pleasant combination.

With regards to the straw, this is usually placed around the bottom of field grown plants to stop the fruits sitting on the soil and getting splashed with mud when it rains.

[murraymints]

crushed egg shells and marigoldsplanted between..they hate marigolds ..nematodes are great....

[lady-janine]

nematodes are very good and effective. copper strip round the top pots also works as do beer traps. if you are keeping birds and pets off them by placing netting over them surely you can use slug pellets that are not harmful to wild life.

[Buenchico]

From the RHS webite:
https://www.rhs.org.uk/advice/profile?PID=228

[thesecondlaw]

Thank you all so much for your help. Much appreciated

[RAV1D]

use fine mesh to protect them with