The war on slugs

I wonder,too, that if with all that rain, plants have grown more tender and juicier than they would have in drier weather. whatever it is that slugs usually dislike might, as a result of the wet weather, have been diluted.

 

We have seen greater numbers of different types of slugs. Snails here are a much less of a problem and number seem the same.

 

I got a name check in GQT last week (Hexham episode) for the experiments I did on slug deterrents only to be told I was “flaky” by Bunny Guinness. I was highly amused.

 

This is my trawl from a ten minute collection from grass and paths. God knows what's in the flower beds! I haven't dared look.
They certainly like drizzle.

 

Quite a haul, @BB3. Pity they are not delicious on toast as that could be your supper sorted.

 

Yuk

 

I discovered dozens of snails living inside my outside fuse cupboard and the two plastic garden benches. I put some slug pellets in each. I either cut slugs in half or step on snails. I am sure they can all fly across gaps. I put a new hosta in a pot, stood it on an upturned pot in the centre of a large manhole cover container filled with water and it has still been decimated.
I haver found a thick layer of sharp grit, plus slug pellets and stood in isolation to be most effective. At least I get a few whole leaves on my hostas and not too much damage.

 

The thing is, I wasn't getting an awful lot of damage ( with a couple of notable exceptions) I don't grow much they fancy. Perhaps they were eating the grass and I should've left them to it

 

There were a few more of the SS brigade on the grass yesterday evening but they've gone into hiding this morning. They needn't have bothered.

 

I'm actually pleased we had a wet day yesterday. I applied the nematodes I've had in the fridge for the past couple of weeks waiting for a suitable weather window. The rain returned halfway through, so I got pretty wet hope it proves worth it.

 

Put that lot through the blender and add tomato sauce....probably taste like pilchards

 

Haven't had pilchards since school dinners. Wasn't overly keen.

 

Now I know why I’ve never liked pilchards

 

That's the problem here @Goldenlily26 . I'm fed up digging plants up and putting them in pots on a moat. It can be bad enough in any year, but this year has been soul destroying. There's one dahlia which I don't think will manage to prodcue much, or it might be October by the time it does.

A couple of young blackbirds have been visiting recently, and both were having a rammy with a slug. Don't know if the female eventually managed to devour hers, but the male kept losing it's grip - too slimy! I posted a photo of him yesterday using the pond, and mentioned that I could have done with them being in the garden a month ago. At least it might have helped a bit once they got the hang of them!

 

After trawling through my search engine with no results for my requirements. Does anyone know of small bedding plants for the front of my border that snails and slugs do not eat as I have lost the lot despite my traps. Or is this mission impossible.