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Copper tape to keep slugs away from Strawberries

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  • Desi_in_LondonDesi_in_London Posts: 731
    edited June 2021
    @Biglad .. was it french ( tagetes)  or english (calendula - pot marigold) you planted out of curiosity?.. i did the former , one marigold  got eaten , rest are fine ( protecting chillies not strawberries) although the smaller chilli plants got eaten just as much. Beginning to think size the best defence for plant v slug survival.-- edit to add - sorry to go off topic slightly
    Kindness is always the right choice.
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    It's French marigold 'Boy Orange' (tagetes patula) @Desi_in_London.

    I've put half a dozen in with the strawberries. One has been totally decimated and the Cyrils have started on the nearest one to it. Whenever I go out on patrol, there have been two/three on these two marigolds and none anywhere else :o 

    There hasn't been any recent damage to anything in that patch so, I'm guessing, removing all those Cyrils is paying off for the time being. The marigolds and late night patrols seem to work as a combination :) 
    East Lancs
  • Ok - i did tagetes patula queen sophie or sophia , perhaps my cyrils just like a varied plant diet ( I will hold my hand up to being too squeamish to do cyril patrol though) 
    Kindness is always the right choice.
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    I just scoop them up on a little trowel and chuck them in the garden waste bin @Desi_in_London. No snipping or saline baths for me ;) 
    East Lancs
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    I just got back in from slug patrol I have an old kitchen knife taped to the end of a broom handle, slice slice slice, also works for cutting off a weed at the knees.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    It's scissors for me. Also, anything kept far off the ground fares better - high pots work well enough for my dahlias etc. Beer traps don't work for me historically but I am going to try again at the weekend.
  • ERICS MUMERICS MUM Posts: 627
    edited June 2021
    If you decide to give the copper tape a go, just make sure there’s no slugs or snails already in the pot - in the soil or hidden among leaves.  They would be trapped IN the pot and not able to get out 😱😱😱
  • Nanny BeachNanny Beach Posts: 8,719
    Filled the trays with MY beer and it blooming rained!!
  • To those that remove the snails at night: what do you do with them after?

    I’ve always been curious since the snails will simply return if placed in a different part of the garden.

    I read snails need to be placed over 20 meters away from their home to prevent them coming back…. 
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    They have a three mile homing sense.
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