Suggestions for slug-proof perennials please

Discussion in 'Pests, Diseases and Cures' started by Heucherella, Jun 3, 2017.

  1. Irmemac

    Irmemac Total Gardener

    Joined:
    Jun 11, 2017
    Messages:
    1,027
    Location:
    West of Scotland
    Ratings:
    +1,686
    Oh that looks familiar!
     
  2. Verdun

    Verdun Passionate gardener

    Joined:
    Oct 16, 2012
    Messages:
    7,475
    Gender:
    Male
    Location:
    West Cornwall
    Ratings:
    +17,486
    So much depends on soil.....wet heavy soils "breed" the blighters and make for more lush plants......and other conditions when considering slug resistant plants but I have learned a little bit, at least in my own garden
    Dianthus for example.......allow the flowers to fade and soften and slugs/snails will appear; deadhead regularly and no attacks. Hostas? So far all of mine, potted and in the ground, are intact. I have not allowed them to flower until now and even then just on some of them. As soon as they flower and soften they are likely to be attacked. I remove the flowers as they go over....keeps foliage clean and dry and unattractive to the blighters
    Ditto with dahlias, heleniums and most others......just deadhead and keep plants as pristine as possible.
    However, astilbes are pretty much the tops for avoiding slugs.....persicarias, sanguisorbas, astrantias, agastaches, salvias, asters, hardy geraniums, grasses, acteas, heucheras, anemones, all seem untouched too.
    I dont have too much of a problem with slugs/snails here......plenty of birds, frogs, toads even the odd hedgehog help; keeping ground clear of rotting foliage and weeds, deadheading, the odd pellet (in early spring and sparingly) and the occasional torch and salt foray make a difference too. Over feeding is fatal......grow plants hard and sturdy I think :)
     
    • Informative Informative x 1
    • Friendly Friendly x 1
    • Heucherella

      Heucherella Gardener

      Joined:
      Apr 26, 2017
      Messages:
      97
      Gender:
      Female
      Occupation:
      Full time in my garden...
      Location:
      North Devon
      Ratings:
      +301
      Thanks for the advice. It's Devon. It never stops raining, so the soil is wet, if not that heavy. Unfortunately at the moment most of my vast borders are a tangle of unruly ( slug-proof) perennials such as Alchemilla, Geranium, crocosmia, Lysimachia, plus weeds. Plenty of hidey holes for slugs. As I clear areas and replant with a wider variety of plants, the slugs home in on the new plants and shred them! We have finally resorted to a few pellets round the newest plants, and then we collect up the affected slugs and dispose of them. It is too large a jungle to patrol effectively...

      Planting slug proof plants will stop me wasting money providing juicy plants as slug food, and then one day in the future when the whole border has been cleared and replanted, I may be able to keep on top of the slugs. Then maybe I can start thinking of hostas and delphiniums...
       
    • Irmemac

      Irmemac Total Gardener

      Joined:
      Jun 11, 2017
      Messages:
      1,027
      Location:
      West of Scotland
      Ratings:
      +1,686
      Thank you, Verdun, for yet more of your excellent advice. Plants you have suggested and that I have put in are ignored by the slimy horrors. I have a lovely potted hosta, but although it gets eaten each year, it's not usually to the stems. I will take off its flowers in future though, as well as deadheading more assiduously.

      Unfortunately I have that heavy, wet soil you refer to, and crumbling brickwork in lots of the back garden, which provides a lush breeding ground. I've been trying to get the brickwork replaced, but 2 builders so far have let me down, and I'm struggling to find anyone else. Nematodes in my large enclosed bed are my next step, and continuing to remove as found and planting inedible ( to them) plants should hopefully help a bit. Keeping them out of my new greenhouse will also be a priority!

      As seen in the photo my coreopsis continues to flourish indoors, although some leaves near the soil are getting eaten by something :yikes:
       

      Attached Files:

    • Verdun

      Verdun Passionate gardener

      Joined:
      Oct 16, 2012
      Messages:
      7,475
      Gender:
      Male
      Location:
      West Cornwall
      Ratings:
      +17,486
      Irememac, why is your coreopsis indoors? It will flourish outside. No need to plant it whilst it's recovering but it will benefit being out there. You can still keep the slugs of it :)
       
      • Agree Agree x 1
      • Irmemac

        Irmemac Total Gardener

        Joined:
        Jun 11, 2017
        Messages:
        1,027
        Location:
        West of Scotland
        Ratings:
        +1,686
        Not sure how to keep slugs at bay without using slug pellets :scratch: Sunny spot, elevated, surrounded by eggshells, perhaps? Since it was so badly attacked before I was loathe to return it to the battleground.
         
      • Verdun

        Verdun Passionate gardener

        Joined:
        Oct 16, 2012
        Messages:
        7,475
        Gender:
        Male
        Location:
        West Cornwall
        Ratings:
        +17,486
        Ok, put it on an inverted pot and 3 or 4 pellets under it or a light dusting of salt under the inverted pot or just check now and then there are no slugs lurking. And dont over water.....I thought compost looked quite wet there Irmemac :)
         
        • Like Like x 1
        • Irmemac

          Irmemac Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Jun 11, 2017
          Messages:
          1,027
          Location:
          West of Scotland
          Ratings:
          +1,686
          Thank you :love30: Good advice. I will also repot, as I just lifted the pot and a tiny snail shell fell out onto the saucer. It looks like there were snail eggs round the roots when I brought it in :wallbanging:
           
        • Sheal

          Sheal Total Gardener

          Joined:
          Feb 2, 2011
          Messages:
          35,545
          Gender:
          Female
          Location:
          Beauly, Inverness-shire. Zone 9a
          Ratings:
          +52,309
          Surrounding the base of the plant with a scrunched up tin foil collar should keep the slugs away Irmemac. :)
           
          • Like Like x 1
          • Informative Informative x 1
          • Creative Creative x 1
          • Irmemac

            Irmemac Total Gardener

            Joined:
            Jun 11, 2017
            Messages:
            1,027
            Location:
            West of Scotland
            Ratings:
            +1,686
            • Friendly Friendly x 1
            • Sheal

              Sheal Total Gardener

              Joined:
              Feb 2, 2011
              Messages:
              35,545
              Gender:
              Female
              Location:
              Beauly, Inverness-shire. Zone 9a
              Ratings:
              +52,309
              Let me know if it works please Irmemac. The idea was recommended to me but I've not used it as yet. :)
               
              • Informative Informative x 1
              • Irmemac

                Irmemac Total Gardener

                Joined:
                Jun 11, 2017
                Messages:
                1,027
                Location:
                West of Scotland
                Ratings:
                +1,686
                I most certainly will. Can't wait to try to sabotage these eating machines' plans! :snorky:
                 
                • Like Like x 3
                • Heucherella

                  Heucherella Gardener

                  Joined:
                  Apr 26, 2017
                  Messages:
                  97
                  Gender:
                  Female
                  Occupation:
                  Full time in my garden...
                  Location:
                  North Devon
                  Ratings:
                  +301
                  After a judicious application of slug pellets, I am seeing recovery of some of my plants. This Salvia now has new leaves growing at the base!

                  [​IMG]

                  I noticed yesterday that a newly planted Silene had been badly slug damaged at the back, so sprinkled a few pellets around it. This morning.....20 slugs!!! Including some whoppers. Hopefully it might have a chance now.

                  [​IMG]
                   
                  • Like Like x 1
                  • Irmemac

                    Irmemac Total Gardener

                    Joined:
                    Jun 11, 2017
                    Messages:
                    1,027
                    Location:
                    West of Scotland
                    Ratings:
                    +1,686
                    Well, the coreopsis has been outside for a week now, complete with its crumpled up collar of tin foil. Despite more slugs than ever before, it still has its leaves, so thank you very much indeed, it seems to have worked! I will post a photo soon to show what it looks like, but it has been pouring all evening.
                     
                    • Friendly Friendly x 1
                    • Ned

                      Ned Evaporated

                      Joined:
                      Apr 25, 2017
                      Messages:
                      2,309
                      Occupation:
                      Prime Minister
                      Location:
                      The Moon
                      Ratings:
                      +5,404
                      Spray WD 40 around pots to keep slugs and snails away... [​IMG]
                       
                      • Like Like x 1
                      Loading...

                      Share This Page

                      1. This site uses cookies to help personalise content, tailor your experience and to keep you logged in if you register.
                        By continuing to use this site, you are consenting to our use of cookies.
                        Dismiss Notice