Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (shoestring) — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:01:02 GMT

I agree with Claire, I encourage the birds and they do the job for me. I don't use any chemicals as I don't want them to harm the garden wildlife. It can't be good for the birds to eat a snail that has been killed using chemicals.

Shoestring x

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (secretstamper) — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:54:47 GMT

Put lots of bird food out and get all the friendly local bird to hang out in your garden and they'll eat all the nasty slugs up for you.
I never have a problem with slugs thanks to my feathered friends.
ooops maybe shouldn't have said that, I bet i get up tomorrow and the slugs will have left the garden bare now i've tempted fate
Claire xx

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (Beas Nanny) — Thu, 08 May 2008 20:17:47 GMT

If you want more info on the product - just google: slug clear. most garden centres sell it.

Mags

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (Wiggybear) — Thu, 08 May 2008 19:54:37 GMT

Soot!
When we had our chimney sweep the sweep said to keep a bag in the shed and sprinkle it around the plants but NOT on the leaves!
Neve did try it but he was convinced.
Luv
Wiggybear x

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (murchison) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:51:02 GMT

i am wicked i collect them in bag then stamp on them i used to dump them down the road in the forest but was told if you dump them with in 3 miles they find there way back . this gave me nightmares i could just see an army of snails marching back down my road knocking on the door and through the house to the garden no if the y hit my garden they are on death row with my foot

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (countrywoman) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:42:08 GMT

While runner beans are in early growth, I put half plastic drinks/milk bottles over them at night, a bit of a %%% but it works. When the beans are bigger than the first pair of leaves the slugs seem to leave them alone, but I also use blue slug pellets in and around them as a belt and braces effect. I keep the half bottles from year to year in my gardening clutter! Once a hoarder, always a hoarder!
Judy C
Oops, I see the thought police have been at work, honestly it was only...

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (cmegan) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:33:54 GMT

just stick the fork in any I see, the birds can come along then and eat em up. Sorry but I hate the things
slugs and snails ,not birds.

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (SisterH) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:32:02 GMT

When I want to protect food plants from slugs and snails I use an organic preparation that contains aluminium sulphate which is harmless to birds and wildlife and works by drying up the slime organ on slugs. The only problem is you have to redo the area after rain as it is soluble in water. You should never use normal slug pellets on food crops as the chemicals can be absorbed by the plant.
Cheers Nic

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (EuniceM) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:30:59 GMT

My slugs must wear liberty vests as I have all my Hostas raised on to gravel and Shingle and they still crawl across it. Like the idea of watering it in to kill those hiding in the soil, must try and get some of that.

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (craftycol) — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:28:14 GMT

I hardly dare answer this in case I am tempting fate, but the slugs haven't touched anything in my garden this year (usually just have chomped plants) they are all in the compost bin. Lift the lid on that and you chould see the SIZE of the slugs in there. As I say, I hope I am not tempting fate..............
Coralie

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (Dawn) — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:36:02 GMT

Fionabee - if you are growing plants in a tub put a band of vaseline around the tub as they don't like to cross the greasy mark. It really does work although it can look a bit unsightly after a bad rain storm as the dirt which is thrown up by the raindrops landing sticks to it, but I would rather have a dirty mark round the tub than a tub with no plants.

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (FionaBee) — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:23:10 GMT

Our gardener friend swears by...I think the word is nemotodes. They are too small to be seen but you water them into the soil and they attack the slugs by eating them (sorry if you're even more squeamish than I am!) This may be what Mags referred to, but friend says you only need to apply it (them) once a year; all I could find at the garden centre said apply weekly and it definitely wasn't the live beasties.

Sigh - my friend has beautiful hostas with never a trace of slug...

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (millie sue) — Thu, 08 May 2008 16:06:59 GMT

I use crushed up sea shells - suppose it will be a bit like the gravel.

goodluck

ps I don't like using slug pellets as I worry in case it affects the birds that visit my garden.

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (TJCrafter) — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:59:00 GMT

Just remembered Richard Jackson said non alcoholic beer is better - now where's the fun in that??? I'll try everything. I'm really on the warpath this year.

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (ISSYWIZZY) — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:53:24 GMT

Agree with Paula,
Beer (I have used Real Ale) works for my garden, although egg shells have been a good help too.
My garden is only tiny but the slugs love everything in it. A good size five shoe works for me too.

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (WelshPaula) — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:36:37 GMT

If you can put gravel around your plants, they do not like having their tummies scratched! I can't say I blame them. Beer does work, as long as you sink the container in the earth so the top is level with the top of the soil. They get drunk and fall in!

Paula x

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (TJCrafter) — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:25:26 GMT

Ann - how right you are Thanks for replies. I'll go to the garden centre tomorrow and have a look for that water mix Mags - has to be worth a try. My beans aren't out yet - only the leaves but the beans won't get a chance to grow at this rate. I'm collecting the snails in a bucket at the moment (with lid) while I try and decide which neighbour I dislike the most

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (violafreckles) — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:20:48 GMT

Salt and sharp stuff around the plants maybe. Some yearsthey seem to get my hostas and sometimes they don't . I think those beer traps were designed for men more than snails though - gives them an excuse to open a can for the snails and then 'Well you can't pour the rest away can you?'

Ann xxx

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (Beas Nanny) — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:19:33 GMT

I use the liquid slug killer that you mix with water. really does stop them chomping the plants, and also kills the little blighters that are buried in the soil and haven't ventured into the big wide world yet.

However, wouldn't like to put it on runner beans - would put a few of the pellets around those.

Mags

forgot to add - gravel around the plants deters them too as they don't like gritty stuff - I have also used crunched up egg shell in the...

Re: Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (Rita) — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:19:21 GMT

Tj ,just to say I can sympathise with you, I tried pellets too and now I,ve lost 2 of my beautiful Clematis plants. Hope someone has an answer. Hugs Rita xxx

Gardening Question - Slugs & Snails

feeds@yuku.com (TJCrafter) — Thu, 08 May 2008 15:17:04 GMT

OK. Before I go out and spend my craft money on slug repellent, does anything really work? I've tried pellets and that clear slime that you put around the plants - not working. The copper tape is really quite expensive for the amount that I would need and OH has locked up the beer - although I could get cheap beer. Last year everything was chomped to a stalk and this year the snails are already in my plastic greenhouse and have made short work of my runner beans