Lovely space. The second one seems to be getting great direct sunlight, too. I, too, have seen those spots in the leaves on my Salvia Nemarosas too. My conclusion has been that it is from small young slugs because they have eaten my young gaillardias nearby too. So, I sprinkled some hedgehog biscuits to ask my hogs to come hunt them.
Would it be safe to put some slug pellets around the second plant?
Lovely space. The second one seems to be getting great direct sunlight, too. I, too, have seen those spots in the leaves. My conclusion has been that it is from small young slugs because they have eaten my young gaillardias too. So, I sprinkled some hedgehog biscuits to ask my hogs to come hunt them.
Would it be safe to put some slug pellets around the second plant?
Never seen a 'hog round here sadly. I could try slug pellets - is there any reason not to?
I personally never use slug pellets as they are so harmful to wildlife. All sorts of things eat slugs and if they have been poisoned, that gets into the food chain. The holes may not be slug or snail damage. It could be aphids, leaf miners or any of a multitude of things that like feasting on our lovely leaves.
Just be aware that you only need three or four at most, round a plant, if you use them. Too many just attracts them . All plants will attract pests at some point. The key is to find out what's causing damage though, before using anything. Young or small snails often cause the most damage though. I should have asked you though - whereabouts are you - roughly? Lots of salvias aren't reliably hardy in colder areas.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I'm not familiar with your climate @DaveKearley, so you might need to wing it, but I'd guess you could be fine there.
The protection of the timber, and the fact that the bed is raised, might be enough, but I'd consider potting those up and overwintering them somewhere sheltered. In borderline areas, people often take cuttings to ensure a back up if plants don't make it
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I personally never use slug pellets as they are so harmful to wildlife. All sorts of things eat slugs and if they have been poisoned, that gets into the food chain. The holes may not be slug or snail damage. It could be aphids, leaf miners or any of a multitude of things that like feasting on our lovely leaves.
Thanks, Didy. I have stopped using slug pellets for a while now.
The Salvias that you have like a free draining soil and plenty of sun, they may not survive the winter if the roots are very wet. I would take some cuttings if you can.
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Would it be safe to put some slug pellets around the second plant?
Too many just attracts them .
All plants will attract pests at some point. The key is to find out what's causing damage though, before using anything.
Young or small snails often cause the most damage though.
I should have asked you though - whereabouts are you - roughly? Lots of salvias aren't reliably hardy in colder areas.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
The protection of the timber, and the fact that the bed is raised, might be enough, but I'd consider potting those up and overwintering them somewhere sheltered. In borderline areas, people often take cuttings to ensure a back up if plants don't make it
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...