pots - be selective!

Hi all, I know this probably should be in the 'container' forum but it seems a bit slow there and I wanted everyone to read this. It might be obvious to you guys anyway but for me it has only just dawned on me!

We've just had a bit of rain and the snails have been out chomping my new flowering plants in my plastic pots. And it seems an ongoing situation, a constant battle. When I realised that the snails were hanging out and hiding under the lip on the outside of the pots I changed them. Every morning I would run my hands under the pot rim and there they were, settled down for the day, putting on weight, having more snails! So I got different pots last year. The new plants this year are getting munched again!? Even though there was no lip on the outside of the pot. Well, I've just discovered that the lip is on the 'inside' of these pots! Does that make sense? The pot lips fold inwards and down an inch or two. The snails love their new homes even more!

I am know looking for pots with just a rim that doesn't fold one way or the other. Okay, there will be snail and slug attacks but at least this way they will obvious to see and just a rummage through the top soil will reveal any others.

Sorry if that was a bit long winded.

Gazania

 

You must be buying some really nice pots! I find the bog-standard plastic sort don't really have a lip. You could put some downturned pots or shards nearby which might act as a decoy, then you could dispose of the slugs.

Or just resort to slug pellets. Apparently the organic/green type work, you don't have to use the metaldehyde ones.

If we encounter some warm dry weather in May then the plants will generally outgrow slug attack. I agree it is important to protect them over the next few weeks, though.

 

Madahhlia what are the organic green ones ? Are they fully pet safe ?
I use the Bayer slug pellets , which contain Metaldehyde . I lightly sprinkle them as we have a pet dog.
Update I
Just had a check on the Bayer site , as my last was called " Bio slug and snail pellets Bio " . Jut bought a new one and it does not have Bio on it ? They both contain 3% Metaldehyde and a child / pet repellent.

Update II
This is a good summary of avaialble types , the organic use ferric phosphate apparently.
http://www.which.co.uk/news/2011/03/slug-pellets-247120/

 

Hi Gazania, a lot of containers sold for use on patio's etc. have a lip that is turned over or under, it's going to be a choice of style but keep on top of the slugs or one of ease.

Harry S, you had me running for my slug pellets, I use Bayer Garden Slug Bait that says on the label "Certified for organic use by the Organic Farmers and Growers Ltd"
I foolishly assumed that these would be pet safe for our dog Bailey but I have just read the label in detail and they are not.

 

I use the metaldehyde ones but a friend uses a bio sort that she claims works, but I'm not sure what the active ingredient is.
Just shows you have a dog that's too sensible to eat nasty little blue pellets!

 

He certainly seems to be more sensible than his owner
Down to the garden centre tomorrow with my reading glasses!

 

A lot of tubs are made this way now, I fill the tubs up past where the lip ends on the inside, makes the pots quite full but the snails don't know that the lip is there it is buried in soil!!!

Val

 

You could sprinkle some sand or small gravel around the base of the pots, that should stop them.

 

Another hiding place for slugs!?

I've just emptied a large pot of soil which had crocks placed over the hole to aid drainage. In the space created by the crocks were 5 enormous slugs!!! They obviously come out of their hiding space at night through the drainage hole, do their destruction, then return.

I think I read somewhere lately that adding crocks or gravel at the bottom of a pot does no good anyway? Any thoughts?

Gazania

 

I put stones over the holes in my pots and had no problems. Crocks tend to be curved so they leave space for slugs and snails to get in.

 

That's expensive on bullets Armandii!

 

It's a good job they don't shoot back!