Snails

I really can't understand the lack of slugs and snails here considering all the rain we've had. Having said that I spotted one climbing up the house wall yesterday, the first I've seen.

 

I've used the sheeps wool pellets too, and so far so good! Used them around my beans, lupin and delphs which had been chewed by the snails and slugs and now all have new shoots which haven't been munched Also watched a slug making it's way around some veggies the other day and it did completely avoid the pellets, then happily went for a drink from my beer trap and drowned

I agree with Chiaroscuro tho, they do really pong!

 

Yes, the pellets do seem to be working! This morning I noticed some new shoots on plants previously attacked. Yaay!

Just noticed I got censored when typing the name of the pellets - they're called Slug B*ggers.

 

I should have read this thread first. I am having no end of problems with snails (and slugs). I have a clematis which hasn't flowered for two years as the like blighters munch them before they get going ( also hostas which end up like lace curtains). I have tried picking them off but there are loads of new ones the next day and as I have quite "wild" cottage style garden they easily hide in other plants.

 

That was exactly what was happening with astrantias I bought. They weren't in great shape when the arrived through the post, but within a couple of days they were just stalks with the flowers on top. I tried making an astrantia A & E out of plastic pots wrapped with copper


and that did help but then one evening I found a slug inside the smaller pot kind of abseiling off the new shoot!

Yes, I find that too and the snails crawl up the fence and snuggle up in the corners. Anyway, I really can recommend the sheep wool pellets, here are a couple of photos where you can see the new shoots coming through unmunched (aside from that one raggedy bit from the abseiling slug).

 

Little sods had my Tricyrtis latiflora last night. It was in a coldframe on a saucer in the middle of a seed tray full of water (I thought that they couldn't swim!), so they must be parachuting in now

 

I've just got back from work and thought I would take a peek at my dalias as they have been battered in the last week. Found 8 on one plant and 5 on another. My new way of getting rid of them is to snip them with a pair of scissors. I then chuck them on the lawn so hopefully the magpies or black bird will eat the in the morning.

Rusty

 

They do seem be annoying inventive.

 

And they eat eachother too apparently. Lovely.

 

I sadly have to report a breach of the sheep wool pellets.

one of my astrantia shoots has gone from this:


to this:




I've spread more around (pellets not slugs) and might reinstate the copper wrapped pots. I'm getting very close to the scissor treatment though.

On the good news front, there was a hedgehog in the garden this morning.

 

I reckon you got off lightly, so they did some good!

 

They have helped, but now I've discoverd the astrantias are being attacked a host specific fly, some long name I can't remember right now - it's one thing after another! - not responsible for the raggedy edges but make the leaves go all blotchy, so I've had to resort to insecticide. Have also put the copper tape wrapped pots back around them to keep the slimy ones off.

 

Lost one of my Asphopeline seedlings now - slugs round here must have flippers and a snorkel I reckon!