sluggies

[Kaiya]

On Gardener's Question Time someone asked whether the poem "if it's brown, squish it down, if it's black, put it back" was true, and I think it was Pippa Greenwood who said that wasn't really the case, it was more "if they're big, let them live, if they're small, squash them all".

A spot of googling informs me that:

Smallies (<4cm):
grey or brown (or black?) with a pale orange sole = Garden Slug = bad
distinct brown patches on side (I think these are the ones that look like snot?) = Field Slug = bad

Biggies (10cm+):
distinct ridge down back = Keeled Slug = bad but fairly uncommon
big brown or black thing (with or without red skirt) = Black Slug = doesn't really do much
big orange thing = Red slug = doesn't really do much

Then I had to find some pictures as generally they all look a lot like slugs to me.

Bad
Garden slug - http://www.habitas.org.uk/molluscire...hortensis2.jpg
Field slug - http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...eticulatum.png
Keeled slug - http://www.molluscs.at/images/weicht...l_cin600-1.jpg

Not so bad
Red slug - http://www.freewebs.com/worldofsnail...rionrufus2.jpg - "hi there!"
Black slug - http://bioref.lastdragon.org/Mollusc...02DSCF0163.jpg or http://www.english-country-garden.co...ack-slug-1.jpg

[Nicos]

Ash from a wood fire- or the bonfire/incinerator- is also supposed to deter them so I was told this week.

[Two_Sheds]

Those big black slugs eat dog poo, so they're good guys

[mothhawk]

Those big black slugs eat dog poo, so they're good guys

OMG! Yuck! Euuggghhh! Too much information TS!

[Maccabee]

Kaiya, myself and the slug population of my garden should be praising you... well, some of them. My revenge will be much more focused now.

[Two_Sheds]

OMG! Yuck! Euuggghhh! Too much information TS!

No, a video would be too much information

[veggiechicken]

Of course I had to look!! Black slugs and dog poo - go together like fish and chips.

[SarrissUK]

Nemaslug is amazing. Well worth a few quid. I hate the little blighters with a passion and Nemaslug turns my slug infested back garden into a hosta heaven

[Potstubsdustbins]

Your not the only one VC. I like that 2Sheds.

Colin

[veggiechicken]

Do you think others have too but won't admit it?

[mothhawk]

Well, I had to look, didn't I? the joke's on me I guess. I'm now trying to blank the whole idea from my mind, thank you very much.

[Acanthus]

Read somewhere that you can put cardboard over the soil overnight, next morning the underneath is covered in the slimy things and you give the blackbirds a treat

[Maccabee]

^^ When i do this it tends to be primarily the horrible little grey ones (Field Slugs) that are uncovered.

Oh, i clicked the link. Bit disappointed if i'm honest lol