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Weed matting and slugs

emily.rushworthemily.rushworth Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Hi!

I have only had a garden since last year. Over the winter I laid down weed matting as a way to cover the garden as it is an unfortunate mix of shallow dirt and broken concrete - this summer I have had a much bigger problem with slugs than last year (they've destroyed my sunflowers and even sometimes get into the house!).

I peeled back some of the matting today due to feeling some debris underneath that was missed when putting it down and noticed in that one small area half a dozen slugs were living underneath. So my question is, is this just an unfortunate cooincidence, or does the shelter of weed matting encourage slug presence and problems?

Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Any cover which has shade will provide a home for slugs during the day.  :)
    If you look under lots of plants, or pots, or bricks, or bits of wood, you'll find slugs. They need cool shady places during the day, especially when it's hot/dry, and just lie in wait until it's dark....
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • TheGreenManTheGreenMan Posts: 1,957
    Fairygirl said:
     and just lie in wait until it's dark....
    This gave me chills! 
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    Any form of groundcover encourages slugs, coarse mulch like bark seems to be the worst, but yes plastic covers are also a lovely place for slugs, voles and all sorts of other pests to hang out.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I can't get too excited about them - there's  tons here. Part of the landscape  ;)
    I took this pic this morning - for scale, that pot is 3inch 


    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I found it quite hard to snip the biggies. The killing is more real.  But I got over it👺
    In London. Keen but lazy.
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