Slugs & snails

We used to have a Song Thrush in the garden where we used to live which got rid of all ours but since we have moved have only seen on Thrush so mine go in the recyling bin now along with the slugs that my resident hedgehog refuses to eat:p

 

One guy HERE seems to have solved the problem with slugs and snails on one of his raised beds.

 

They've moved onto the young growth on my Heleniums now. Sorry to those who are squeamish, but tonight I'll be out there with a pair of sharp scissors. I am not losing the Heleniums to them...

 

Good gardeners always have a ruthless streak ...

 

Another solution for raised beds (besides the 9 volt DC one) is to put 4" guttering all around on all four sides. The four lengths have to be well sealed at the joints though. Then fill with water. Snails and slugs are not fond of swimming moats.

I don't know why I'm giving you all these ideas because I quite like snails. :D When I was a child I used to keep them in containers and feed them lettuce etc. :yho: I had quite a collection of various types. I liked the yellow shelled ones best.

 

I'm afraid to say I saw one last night on the grass and promptly stamped on it. Sorry - I know I'm going straight to hell for that (but I was heading there anyway).

 

Hi Everyone,

I'm new to all this! This is my first year gardening, I'm growing tomatoes and peppers as first attempt! Are all slug pellets the same or are some better than others? Are some safer than others for the rest of my garden wildlife?

I don't fancy squashing them or chopping them up! I guess I don't have a ruthless streak!

Tom

 

I've got a terrible slug and snail problem, but the worst part of it for me is going outside in the summer in bare feet, or socks and standing on them and bursting them under foot! It's bad enough with shoes on, but in bare feet, it's, well 'orrible!.

 

Haha - that's disgusting Dave, you need to invest in some Crocs and some slug prevention!

Tom

 

You are absolutely right about the slug prevention, not sure about the crocs though, I like barefoot when it's safe :D

 

I hate them so much that even if I am barefoot I'll squish them!

 

Hi Tom

There are slug pellets that are supposed to be safe for animals and wildlife, which were recommended to me by someone who runs his own nursery. Apparently the salesman who came to sell them to him even ate some himself to prove their harmlessness, but don't try it yourself, please! The brand/licensing name is Ferramol. I used it in the past - seems to be the same as regular slug pellets in effectiveness.

Other than that, try nemaslugs - the organic method, using nematodes that live in the soil and do something to the slugs, eat them or something (waffle, waffle...). I use them a lot and they seem effective, although do need to be re applied every 6 weeks. But they're easy to use, being watered into the ground and are safe for animals, wildlife and humans.

Other than that, there is copper wire round plants in danger, crushed eggshells, coffee grounds, beer traps, bran...lots of methods to try. You could also go out at night and collect them by hand (gloves perhaps?) although what to do with them afterwards remains a dilemma - throwing them over into your neighbours garden isn't ideal, as they might reciprocate!:D