Mouldy blue slug pellets and powdery residue on honeysuckle?

Before I went away for a week I put down a lot of the blue stuff, to ward off the battalions of snails and slugs that vist my garden at night. It rained a lot whilst I was away, and I've come home to find the blue stuff has gone mouldy! I'll be clearing it up this morning of course but am worried it's poisened the earth? and is is safe to put in the rubbish bin?Also, my honeysuckle planted a few weeks ago now has yellowing leaves and some powdery stuff on nearly all the leaves. Has it got too damp? Any advice for this newbie will be gratefully received.

 

Hi Jackcat

It's a common mistake to use too many slug pellets. It's better to scatter them sparingly over a wide area and much better to put some under pieces of slate propped up on stones. Putting pellets under a cover like this prevents them getting saturated by rain and encourages the slugs and snails to hide there and find the pellets. Double benefit!

I doubt if your washed out pellets will have contaminated the soil to any significant degree. Just put the mouldy pellets in a plastic bag when disposing of them.

Your honeysuckle may be suffering from powdery mildew so it's time to spray it with fungicide becuase it's always better to fight mildew as early as possible. Unless you've been overwatering it, it can't get too damp.

 

Thanks Flinty, that's reassuring. I will buy a fungicide

 

Hi I use a slug bell this protects the pellets from being dissolved by the rain