Bearing in mind I was catching more than half a dozen a day in a beer trap, their numbers weren't slowing and I was still getting damage I don't hold out much hope for night time raids!
Wait for a very wet night & go out there, you'll be surprised Bookmonster.. snails & all. Thankfully here in the South East, it's generally been dry from March-July so haven't had half the problem we did last year with the wet June & garlic spray/lambs wool pellets have lasted but far more difficult for you in Scotland Fairy, I think for nematodes soil needs to be above 5c or something?
The most substantial damage is made in Spring when shoots are emerging, after that a healthy/happy plant should be able to cope an occasional nibble.
Take heart bookmonster, I tried the traps but I reckon you only get the socially active looking for a good time and not the serious gastronomic pods (Oh dear, was that really bad?) and I can get through dozens with the torch in one outing.
I'm sorry about the salt Hosta and Fairy, I only use it for snails when I have a very bad situation and I am not so sure its worse than nematodes which traditionally don't help with snails. The 'flying snail' method seems a bit disrespectul to my neighbours, leaving them somewhere for the birds doesn't seem to help as they've gone before the birds realise they are there, nifty little so and so's.
My daughter swears by grit and coffee grounds but she has had problems this year with all the rain, I guess Fairy is right, we just have to try everything more than once and then come to the forum and vent when they don't work
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
I'd be quite happy if I was only catching half a dozen b'monster. I can easily get that under the rim of one pot. . A little daytime hunt - under pot rims, pot bases, in the foliage of certain plants etc is really benefical. I know Hostafan hates me saying this - but a couple of sacrificial plants, like hostas, can help as well.
I think it's something like that Mark, but I'd reckon by the time my soil is that temp - it would be too late for many plants
Like most pests and diseases, some years will be worse than others depending on the conditions, and you gradually get used to what works best in your own plot. We had a very dry (and warm for us) March, and I noticed a big difference in the slug population. The winter was a bit drier than the norm too, with more frosty days than usual, rather than the wet cold, which slugs shrug off and thrive in. We still had half a dozen snowfalls, but they weren't heavy and only lasted a week or so at a time. I could happily have those winters - great to get outside so often!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I know what you mean herbaceous with the traps. Just ordered some more copper tape and some wool pellets. A snail got past my copper tape and sandpaper coldframe defences... Copper taped my walking onions that have just gone out, fingers crossed...
Vigilance bookmonster! Vigilance! Sometimes damage limitation is the best you can hope for, I doubt there is a gardener who hasn't been brought down by wildlife in their garden and slugs are usually at the top of the list so we'll be rooting for you.
I make sure my copper tape is at least 2" deep as my veg are so good the slugs can be whoppers but they are like mice as they can get through the smallest gaps. Remember gardening is about patience and anger management but often triumph and good food.
"The trouble with having an open mind, of course, is that people will insist on coming along and trying to put things in it." Sir Terry Pratchett
You're never going to compete with slugs, for every one you kill it's replaced with two. Save yourself the blood pressure increase and make peace with that! Who would want to sprinkle slug pellets next to something they're growing to eat!?! Frightening.
I've covered my cabbages with very fine nets this year and they haven't been touched by slugs, and there are some fat b#####ds kicking around my allotment! I weighed the net down with stones but I wouldn't necessarily rely on that, a wooden frame that you can lift would likely be best.
No, never once. Slugs can't dig they and they need to breathe air. The term living underground implies that they are like rabbits but what it really means is just hiding in an existing hole slightly below the surface (exactly as they do 'above surface'). If that hole happens to be next to your potatoes then you might be out of luck, of course!
Posts
I'd agree Hosta. Much as we all get frustrated with their munching, I'd rather dispatch them quickly.
I don't like the thought of them languishing in misery
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Bearing in mind I was catching more than half a dozen a day in a beer trap, their numbers weren't slowing and I was still getting damage I don't hold out much hope for night time raids!
Wait for a very wet night & go out there, you'll be surprised Bookmonster.. snails & all. Thankfully here in the South East, it's generally been dry from March-July so haven't had half the problem we did last year with the wet June & garlic spray/lambs wool pellets have lasted but far more difficult for you in Scotland Fairy, I think for nematodes soil needs to be above 5c or something?
The most substantial damage is made in Spring when shoots are emerging, after that a healthy/happy plant should be able to cope an occasional nibble.
Last edited: 03 September 2017 08:53:32
Take heart bookmonster, I tried the traps but I reckon you only get the socially active looking for a good time
and not the serious gastronomic pods (Oh dear, was that really bad?) and I can get through dozens with the torch in one outing.
I'm sorry about the salt Hosta and Fairy, I only use it for snails when I have a very bad situation and I am not so sure its worse than nematodes which traditionally don't help with snails. The 'flying snail' method seems a bit disrespectul to my neighbours, leaving them somewhere for the birds doesn't seem to help as they've gone before the birds realise they are there, nifty little so and so's.
My daughter swears by grit and coffee grounds but she has had problems this year with all the rain, I guess Fairy is right, we just have to try everything more than once and then come to the forum and vent when they don't work
I'd be quite happy if I was only catching half a dozen b'monster. I can easily get that under the rim of one pot. . A little daytime hunt - under pot rims, pot bases, in the foliage of certain plants etc is really benefical. I know Hostafan hates me saying this - but a couple of sacrificial plants, like hostas, can help as well.
I think it's something like that Mark, but I'd reckon by the time my soil is that temp - it would be too late for many plants
Like most pests and diseases, some years will be worse than others depending on the conditions, and you gradually get used to what works best in your own plot. We had a very dry (and warm for us) March, and I noticed a big difference in the slug population. The winter was a bit drier than the norm too, with more frosty days than usual, rather than the wet cold, which slugs shrug off and thrive in. We still had half a dozen snowfalls, but they weren't heavy and only lasted a week or so at a time. I could happily have those winters - great to get outside so often!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I know what you mean herbaceous with the traps. Just ordered some more copper tape and some wool pellets. A snail got past my copper tape and sandpaper coldframe defences... Copper taped my walking onions that have just gone out, fingers crossed...
Vigilance bookmonster! Vigilance! Sometimes damage limitation is the best you can hope for, I doubt there is a gardener who hasn't been brought down by wildlife in their garden and slugs are usually at the top of the list so we'll be rooting for you.
I make sure my copper tape is at least 2" deep as my veg are so good the slugs can be whoppers
but they are like mice as they can get through the smallest gaps. Remember gardening is about patience and anger management but often triumph and good food.
You're never going to compete with slugs, for every one you kill it's replaced with two. Save yourself the blood pressure increase and make peace with that! Who would want to sprinkle slug pellets next to something they're growing to eat!?! Frightening.
I've covered my cabbages with very fine nets this year and they haven't been touched by slugs, and there are some fat b#####ds kicking around my allotment! I weighed the net down with stones but I wouldn't necessarily rely on that, a wooden frame that you can lift would likely be best.
But slugs go underground! Haven't you ever had them in your potatoes?
No, never once. Slugs can't dig they and they need to breathe air. The term living underground implies that they are like rabbits but what it really means is just hiding in an existing hole slightly below the surface (exactly as they do 'above surface'). If that hole happens to be next to your potatoes then you might be out of luck, of course!