Slugs - can I prepare for battle during the winter?

Hello, I'm new to the site need some advice about a much-debated issue: slugs. I have a massive infestation of slugs and woodlice in my garden. I'm not sure if the woodlice are harmful in any way but there are hundreds and hundreds of them hiding under every pot and stone as well as in the soil of the flowerbeds - if anyone can offer advice on pros and cons of woodlice in the garden it would be much appreciated, too!

Back to the slugs though: I have tried to grow my own vegetables in this garden for two years yet every single thing in the actual flower beds gets eaten (apart from nasturtiums that roamed free all last summer)... I have tried beer traps, but would probably need a bucket rather than a jar/glass to deal with the bounty this far. I'm reluctant to use slug pellets, firstly to protect the kitten that lives next door, but I'm also not entirely comfortable growing vegetables full of chemicals. I did read in some earlier threads about slug pellets being just alcohol: is this true, and what are your feelings about eating produce from ground filled with slug pellets?

I have found salt to work wery vell around grow bags on the tiled areas and on the stone edges of raised beds and fortunately did manage to successfully grow some flowers and vegetables despite the slimers. However, I don't want to lose the majority of my growing space and am therefore wondering if anyone can offer any tips or advice on what I can do, and whether there is anything I can start doing now to get the garden ready for spring planting. Many thanks in advance!

 

Hello and welcome.

It sounds like you've already tried some of the things I'd suggest. I too am reluctant to resort to pellets.

Luckily, I don't have much of a problem with slugs because we seem to be on a migratory route for frogs. In mid summer we get loads of them in our garden, and frogs love to eat slugs. At my last house we had no frogs, but just as good, we had Steven. Ste was our resident hedgehog. He became friendly over the years we were there and would occasionally join the wife and I for a drink on the patio on warm summer evenings (he would have a saucer of water while we had wine or beer).

I guess the point to be found in my insane ramblings is that if the garden supports a bit of diversity, things should balance themselves out. I don't like the idea of lots of chemicals in the garden, because I feel that as soon as you go down that route, you will have to manage it constantly.

The only practical short term thing I can suggest is to make a jagged boundary of sharp grit or similar around your veg patch, so that slugs and snails are reluctant to cross it. Also, if you have kids, teach them the 'slug splatting game'. Kids are excellent predators. Train them to hunt the slugs and snails, and while you look at a garden that appears to have none, they will be back after 5 mins max with a bucket full of the things.

 

Save the seasons of anguish suffered by gardeners.
Get Slug Pellets now and spread on Valentines Day - like my old Grandad told me.
I've tried all sorts, but the pellets are the only working method I have seen. I spread under bushes and the edges of the fences.
Keep a stock and respread if needed later in the year, but initially you will see a significant reduction.
We have loads of birds and cats in the garen. They don't seem to be affected. The Hedgehog family is still active also.
I know the standard response from the Organic supporters seems to suggest the pellets are fatal to wildlife.

GO PELLETS!

 

The argument is that as the slugs pellets are toxic enough to kill a slug, then anything that eats that slug will also get poisoned. Maybe only a small dose, but harmful over time.

Personally, I'm undecided whether or not to believe that, but usually err on the side of caution.

 

I've tried Grit, gravel, bran, sand, eggshells, half filled lemonade bottles. Nothing works - other than the breeding habit of slugs.
No Pellets - multitude of Slugs.
Lots of Pellets - very few Living Slugs (lots of dead ones to dispose of though.

 

Thanks for your quick responses. I just popped out and almost to prove my point there was a slug climbing on the door handle as I came in!

I did try eggshells as well this summer, I agree that they worked fairly well but in a household of two people we just don't consume enough eggs to cover sufficient ground. The combination of sharp things and pellets sounds like the way to go.

Do you know about the woodlice, are they pests or harmless? I have never seen them in such numbers as in my garden though, whenever I move a stone they seem to pour out of the ground.

 

Some say woodlice are harmless, choosing to eat just dead wood. Some say they nibble plant roots.

All I know is that my gardens have always had thousands of the things, and apart from looking horrible, they don't seem to cause any problems.

Incidentally, this doesn't help, but an interesting fact about woodlice is that their closest relative are sea creatures. Woodlice are pretty much land dwelling shrimps.

 

nemaslug .... 1st application to be made on valentine's day

http://www.nemaslug-slug-killer.com/

http://www.nemaslug-slug-killer.co.uk/

I have not tried it, but have tried other items .... the only stuff that has worked so far are the blue slug pellets

for hostas, try making the garlic and water mixture, then spray the leaves once a fortnight

 

I agree with Dim. Blue Pellets.
If - as claimed in the blurb - the Nemaslug contents occur naturally in the soil, why do we have slugs in the first place.
I have tried natural slug repellant in the past (including barrier mash) with no effect at all.

 

Have a good tidy up over winter, turn over stones etc & look for the eggs. Simplest way to destroy them is to put them in a glass jar in the sun, they very quickly dry out.

Woodlice are generally good, there is one type that will nibble Basil & a few other things, but not really a problem.

Get a duck.

 

I was told that the adult slugs contain in the slime they produce a growth in hibitor that stops the other slugs from growing so when you kill the large ones the smaller ones start to regrow , dont know if its true or not ??

Has any one else heard this


I normaly go round the garden with a torch in the summer at 12.00 am and freek out next door
Woodlice as long as they keep out of the greenhouse have a nice long life in my garden plus I have a toad that sorts them out.

Spruce

 

I've got Hedgehogs in my garden and no slugs. A friend just down the road has Indian Runner Ducks and has no slugs. Another friend has ducks and a large pond, plenty of frogs and again no slugs.

I'm a firm believer in not using pellets so can't comment. I'd rather let nature take it's course.

 

I use Nematodes (nemaslug) ALL the other methods for keeping slugs at bay fail when in comparison to nematodes. However, a combination of methods works even better.

Eggshells: On the top of the soil in pots works quite well - (organic) Source: If you cannot get enough from your own kitchen, try another kitchen...the local Cafe?

Coffee Grounds: Same application as eggshells - (organic) Source: Local Starbucks or similar.

Wildlife: As already stated, frogs and Toads will take care of some of the slimey critters. - (organic) Source: Build a pond and they will come, can be as small as a washing up bowl, but remember to ensure animals can get in and out. Also attracting birds into your garden will take care of a few slugs/snails.

Cleanliness: Zig is quite correct here keeping the garden tidy, brushing up leaves etc leaves less hiding places for the slimers.

But Nematodes are by far the best and the only complete solution if a little bit pricey!

Steve...