Dahlias vs slugs. Actually just slugs.

Posts

• micearguers Posts: 646

  July 2020

  I have some slugs and snails, but very few these days. I attribute it to the presence of frogs, toads, and occasionally even hedgehogs; I never use pellets or nematodes, although I will admit to the infrequent field-throw or snip (this is something I started doing this year; previous methods of disposal were cumbersome and probably more cruel, but then again, weeks go by without a snip). The frogs and toads are supported by the pond that we have. This year I've planted out self-sown Bishop's children seedlings, and so far they are thriving. It's a balance of how strong the Dahlias are and how big the onslaught is. A few years ago I purchased two Dahlias and they were razed down by snails and co in no time.
  

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• GemmaJF Posts: 2,286

  July 2020 edited July 2020

  Slugs? What slugs?
  
  
  
  We have a good variety of slugs in the wildlife garden, but never too many of the most damaging small grey and white ones. I grow lettuce with total impunity to slug attack, any daft enough to venture on to the veg plot, there are eyes on them. 
  
  There really is a lot of sense in developing a 'diversity area', 'wildlife garden', 'messy bit', call it what you want in a garden, not having cats, but instead putting in habitat such as ponds, log piles, overgrown areas to support native wildlife. 
  
  It's an imbalance in gardens that causes the slug problems in the first place, I've never once found a site working for years as an ecologist that had a 'slug or snail problem' in the wild.

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• Camelliad Posts: 402

  July 2020

  That's really interesting (@GemmaJF - does that just hang around in your garden???). We have a huge log pile - undisturbed for years - with nettles and ivy growing over it. The only time I go near it is to pick nettle leaves. I was hoping that would encourage toads and hedgehogs but perhaps I've upset things by clearing the borders either side of the garden for planting. Not many cats around. Lots and lots of small birds. My other half would dearly like a pond and I've always been slightly against it. Perhaps I should reconsider.
  
  Someone told me that the darker leaved dahlias succumb less easily but mine are still munched.

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• GemmaJF Posts: 2,286

  July 2020

  That slow worm is one of literally hundreds in our garden. All I did was create the habitat and go to some lengths down the years to deter the neighbours' cats and the population has steadily grown. Add to it, hedgehogs, frogs, toads, lizards, newts, birds.
  
  Battling slugs without them is just a battle nobody ever wins in my opinion, be it nematodes or pellets, the problem does not go away, it just remains year on year.
  
  Using artificial control also discourages the very predators that would control them for you, by removing their food source before they establish large enough populations to control them.
  
  Hope it is food for thought, your OH was always right about that pond, get digging for the dahlias 

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• micearguers Posts: 646

  July 2020

  Ooo @GemmaJF I haven't seen slow worms yet in our garden (although the neighbours have in theirs). I'll need to start supplying a better habitat for them. We have spotted grass snakes occasionally, always wonder where they go.
  

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• Camelliad Posts: 402

  July 2020

  This does feel like a much healthier, more positive way of thinking about it. I really like the idea of tackling this by developing the garden further and creating a habitat, rather than just trying to tackle "the problem of slugs". And actually probably lower maintenance than getting chickens - which is what I'd started researching last week, until a friend told me that they actually just ignore the slugs.
  
  One more question @GemmaJF and @micearguers - with all the wildlife in your garden are you extra careful with the lawnmower? Or does the grass never get so long that you can't see what's in it? When we first moved in it was completely overgrown and I made my OH walk up and down the garden with a stick first to make disturb the grass before he mowed. I don't think he's ever forgiven me for that...
  
  

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• GemmaJF Posts: 2,286

  July 2020 edited July 2020

  Grass snakes are super mobile, so usually only visitors to gardens, rather than resident all the time, though we do have them lay eggs in the compost heap, so plenty of little bootlace grass snakes in the garden each Autumn.
  
  Slow worms can be locally very abundant, but their distribution these days is very 'patchy' If your neighbour has them, your in luck!
  
  The secret to reptiles in our garden, which I'm more than happy to share is a 'hibernation bund'
  
  When I dug out the pond, I placed a lot of hardcore down and covered it with the soil I dug out. This forms an 'underground' system of caverns ideal for reptiles and amphibians to hibernate in. I then built extensive log and brash piles on top of the bund. South or west facing in the sun is good for reptiles, as in the spring they can bask and warm up easily.
  
  I've always thought reptiles are a good 'indicator' species, so what works for them also works for a lot of insects, small mammals and birds, so the bund is a busy place for wildlife these days.
  
  Slow worms love compost heaps too, I have several, cold heaps, hot heaps, they move around them as they choose. 
  
  I also put down  corrugated tins or felts. They love to warm up under them. They are super elusive, even though one can have plenty in a garden, so looking under tins or felts is often when I see them. On the right days, often in large numbers.

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• GemmaJF Posts: 2,286

  July 2020 edited July 2020

  Camelliad said:

  This does feel like a much healthier, more positive way of thinking about it. I really like the idea of tackling this by developing the garden further and creating a habitat, rather than just trying to tackle "the problem of slugs". And actually probably lower maintenance than getting chickens - which is what I'd started researching last week, until a friend told me that they actually just ignore the slugs.
  
  One more question @GemmaJF and @micearguers - with all the wildlife in your garden are you extra careful with the lawnmower? Or does the grass never get so long that you can't see what's in it? When we first moved in it was completely overgrown and I made my OH walk up and down the garden with a stick first to make disturb the grass before he mowed. I don't think he's ever forgiven me for that...
  
  

  I'm careful with the mower. I no longer use a power strimmer, just shears. I keep mown areas 'well mown' which discourages most animals, then 'walk' the area before mowing. Any lizards etc tend to flee when I walk the area, so I'm then good to run the mower around. I do though always keep my eyes open, had a few near misses in the past.
  
  I'm really getting to the point now where I really only have mown paths, even the front lawn is being eyed up as a no-dig veg plot, with wildlife friendly features. 
  
  I try to do everything to benefit the wildlife in some way. We are about to put in a patio, I looked at concrete mixes and it being a fully hard area, then found out I could simply put the stones on sand. Slow worms can burrow in sand.. so more habitat for them and a nice new area for pot plants for me.

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• Camelliad Posts: 402

  July 2020

  I love your approach @GemmaJF thank you for sharing. I'm going to do this.

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• Dirty Harry Posts: 1,048

  July 2020

  Surely mature plants wouldn't bat an eyelid?
  
  Can you encircle them with something to protect them when they're young?
  
  I grow all mine in pots so don't have any issues.

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