Reducing Slug / Snail Population

Apart from birds, what else eats slugs/snails?

 

Hi @rosebay - I believe they are a hedgehog delicacy as well.

 

I don't know what I'm going to do as I hate killing anything. Really hate it. Note: I don't judge anybody else on what they do, it's just I hate it for me! I used to be able to fling them over the next door wall, which was very derelict and the hours was empty for years, so they had a lovely life slugging around the undergrowth and gorging themselves into obesity. I have really lovely neighbours now and wouldn't dream of it, even though they have cleared all the garden but are not interested in planting stuff etc. I am not looking forward to this invasion!

 

My theory is that any contraption which aims to kill the slugs has to attract them first. I gave up on slug pellets etc years ago, not for any other reason than it felt as though I was feeding the entire neighborhood of slugs.

Now my only defence is some copper bands around Hostas which are in pots and I try to place the pots far enough away from each other that the leaves don't touch (so that if a slug does get into one it has to go all the way back down and up another. The pots are on paving and in full sun so the ground around them is warm and dry at the time of year the slugs are most active.(This does work, I have lots of Hostas and it's very rare to find even one nibbled leaf).

I have allowed some native bushes to grow in my hedge (especially hawthorn and blackthorn) and I've noticed more small birds in the garden since then so maybe they're eating the slugs. I don't feed the birds either, just put out water if the weather is hot and dry, and I do see empty snail shells where the birds nest so I'm pretty sure the birds are controlling the snails for me.

I also have a feeling that watering too much in the evening in summer leaves a higher humidity which also attracts slugs and snails so if I am watering (not needed often in Wales) I always water the hedge as well and make the edge of the garden a higher humidity than near the plants I want to protect. I have a nettle bed under the hedge which I also keep well watered.

Other than that nothing and I have no more of a slug or snail problem than I had when I was spending hours every week trying to get rid of them.

 

Yes I read that watering in the evenings attracts them (common sense really) so try not to leave it too late for this. Sometimes it feels constrictive time wise to fit in watering....I have heard that in the morning is least good since it is more likely to evaporate. Midday (in sun) not good either for same reason but also the sun reflecting on leaves with water can burn them I have heard. So it seems down to mid afternoonish.

 

Luckily I have loads of blackbirds,thrushes,rooks,and countless brown jobs that seem to keep the slugs at bay. They in turn get munched by the local sparrow hawks/goshawks .
Feeding through winter seems to help keep them in the garden,old bread and dog food,not the expensive bird foods..

 

Copper bands for pots definitely work.

My mass attack last year and regular regime of dropping the occasional slug pellet seems to be working as I've barely seen any slugs so far this year and definitely no snails (yet).

The beer traps did work for me last year but needed constant emptying and refilling, otherwise they became full quickly and absolutely stank.

I am nervous about the use of slug pellets. I saw a robin pecking around where I put some the other day which scared me. Also I think too many can damage the soil, although I am using the Ferric phosphate ones.

We do have lots of birds in the garden this year - they're always there in spring but they seem to be hanging around a bit more.

 

I received my Nematodes through the post (now in the fridge) giving it another week for the ground to warm up a bit more..the majority I'm using on one particular border to see how they go.
You won't believe this,I'm armed with my jam jar to try some for the link JWK put up and I can't find one slug,not a one and believe me I've searched....they've probably seen me coming and gone underground and are munching on my Delphinium roots as I type Well I'll find 'em...I was reluctant to collect them up and put them in a jar but I'm ready for them now

 

Awwww noooo Woo,fancy saying that when I'm around

 

it was the guy with indian running ducks wasn't it on gardeners world

I did want some after i saw them they were so sweet. he said they didn't damage any of the plants as well. Shame i don't have the money or energy to look after some

 

Mr foxy or badger or some wild cat would eat them if they were in my garden. Would be nice though to have some,or maybe geese to scare the ...... out of the neighbours

 

Do you think my neighbours would mind a flock of ducks quacking around my tiny courtyard?! Maybe one for the next house. They were absolutely lovely and how amazing to have them for slug patrol!

 

I have been having a little experiment. Was having a clean up of the shed and found a fair few old CDs (left over from my geekier days) I generally use for bird scarers around the veg patch.
Well, anyway, I have a little patch of lettuce and chard and decided to make a little CD fortress around them shiniest side outwards, each shoved into the ground almost half way and overlapping (covering the hole!) as a S&S barrier.

It seems to be working. Early days yet and may be a fluke, we shall see ...

How are the other experiments progressing?

GG

 

That's brilliant GG..Keep us posted with your progress.

You've just reminded me to use my Nemaslug potion