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  • Best way to kill slugs and snails?

    Right now then..

    The time has come to plan my war on this years hordes of slugs and snails. I have tried nemaslug with some success but far too expensive to use often I think. Also tried the little blue pellets, not the organic ones I'm afraid, and these do seem to work well, but would like to know if the more expensive ferramol based pellets are just as good or better?

    Any other tips greatly appreciated
    Death to all slugs!

  • #2
    I don't like using any of the slug pellets as none of them are great with wildlife. I too use nematodes occasionally and wince at the price. I find that the best way of doing things is to encourage the likes of frogs on my site by the use of a wildlife pond, grow most things to a reasonable size at home in modules by which time they're big enough to see the slimy things off a bit and also squash as many as possible whenever I see them. Usually shove a hand fork spoke through them then throw them to next door's chickens.

    Some of us live in the past, always talking about back then. Some of us live in the future, always planning what we are going to do. And, then there are those, who neither look behind or ahead, but just enjoy the moment of right now.

    Which one are you and is it how you want to be?

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    • #3
      Our garden has tonnes of slugs & snails, dreading fighting them off my veg myself but we also have a pond with froggies so fingers crossed that helps (only been in the house 4 months).

      I've built a raised bed which has stones all around so I'm hoping that will help keep them away.

      If anyone tells you crushed eggshells may help, it didn't when I tried that method when the buggers ate my marigolds.

      Small cups of beer are supposed to help as they love beer.

      Anything is worth a try.
      Choccy


      My favourite animal is steak...

      Life expectancy would grow by leaps and bounds if green vegetables smelled as good as bacon.

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      • #4
        Venture out at night with a head torch , bucket of salty water and something to spear them with ......and the next night, and the next night and so on .........
        S*d the housework I have a lottie to dig
        a batch of jam is always an act of creation ..Christine Ferber

        You can't beat a bit of garden porn

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        • #5
          Suppose I am lucky my rear garden plot is enclosed. The house on one side and fencing on the other three and none of my food plants near the edges. For some years now I have used a scattering of blue pellets to protect the 3 boarders whilst fighting the war on my patch. Last two years have seen quite a drop in the amount of slug/snail siteings and damage.

          Colin
          Potty by name Potty by nature.

          By appointment of VeggieChicken Member of the Nutters club.


          We hang petty thieves and appoint great ones to public office.

          Aesop 620BC-560BC

          sigpic

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          • #6
            At home I chuck snails on the garage roof for the birds .........
            S*d the housework I have a lottie to dig
            a batch of jam is always an act of creation ..Christine Ferber

            You can't beat a bit of garden porn

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            • #7
              corrugated iron on a hot summers day gives the birds a hot cooked treat

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              • #8
                and if they hit the roof hard enough they come ready shelled for them
                S*d the housework I have a lottie to dig
                a batch of jam is always an act of creation ..Christine Ferber

                You can't beat a bit of garden porn

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                • #9
                  when we moved here last summer I was astounded at the size of the blasted things - easily 4-5 inches long. I can see why Nemaslug was developed by a Bristolian company.
                  While I haven't been growing stuff in dirt here yet, i did find that the slug numbers seemed to diminish after I used Nemaslug on the lawn. Also copper tape around the veg in pots kept the blighters out of those (not the snails, sadly, but I suspect they were paratrooping in off the adjacent fence)
                  I plan on using the Nemaslug again on the plot (raised beds so can target there), as well as beer traps (apparently stout works best), the organic slug pellets, and a small boy with half a brick...

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                  • #10
                    ooh forgot... lottie neighbour is putting her chickens on the plot so I might toss a good number that way too

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                    • #11
                      An old boy used to visit his plot after rain with a pair of scissors..........
                      Whether you think you can or whether you think you can't, you are probably right.
                      Edited: for typo, thakns VC

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                      • #12
                        I have a pair of "slug scissors" that are used to snip them in half. I go out with a head torch on after dark and snip any I find. Snails, I tend to throw up high over my back wall and listen to them smash on the road (obviously there are no cars driving past...) or I stand on them.

                        I have used the blue organic pellets with some success, but the scissors work better for me and fit in with my organic-as-possible methods I had a major battle with slugs/snails and a newly planted globe artichoke last year.. I was out every night of the week snipping them off it.

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                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Aberdeenplotter View Post
                          corrugated iron on a hot summers day gives the birds a hot cooked treat
                          Are zeese birds Francais?
                          Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better...Albert Einstein

                          Blog - @Twotheridge: For The Record - Sowing and Growing with a Virgin Veg Grower: Spring Has Now Sprung...Boing! http://vvgsowingandgrowing2012.blogs....html?spref=tw

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                          • #14
                            Originally posted by chris View Post
                            I have a pair of "slug scissors" that are used to snip them in half. I go out with a head torch on after dark and snip any I find. Snails, I tend to throw up high over my back wall and listen to them smash on the road (obviously there are no cars driving past...) or I stand on them
                            I bet you were a very naughty child!

                            I suggest using a hammer

                            The lady on the plot next to me swears by cheap Tesco bitter in cans, pushed into her soil. When the can is full of them (gag...wrench....gag) she dumps it in a bin and puts another in it's place!
                            Last edited by VirginVegGrower; 14-01-2012, 10:54 AM.
                            Look deep into nature, and then you will understand everything better...Albert Einstein

                            Blog - @Twotheridge: For The Record - Sowing and Growing with a Virgin Veg Grower: Spring Has Now Sprung...Boing! http://vvgsowingandgrowing2012.blogs....html?spref=tw

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                            • #15
                              Originally posted by Chocolate8me View Post
                              we also have a pond with froggies
                              Frogs prefer worms to slugs, sorry
                              Originally posted by Chocolate8me View Post
                              cups of beer are supposed to help as they love beer.
                              cups of beer also drown spiders & other beneficials: if you do use them, pop some twigs in so the good guys can climb back out

                              Originally posted by salome2001 View Post
                              when we moved here last summer I was astounded at the size of the blasted things - easily 4-5 inches long
                              It's the small ones that do the most damage to crops, apparently

                              RHS slug advice

                              I use "hotels" on the lotty: just a piece of old wood which I leave on the ground. The slugs kindly congregate underneath during the day, then I throw them to the chickens

                              At home I do the torch patrol, with Marigolds and a bucket of salty water. Pick them up, drop them in
                              All gardeners know better than other gardeners." -- Chinese Proverb.

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