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Slugs and Snails

Sheila AllderSheila Allder Posts: 56
in Problem solving
I want to plant 4 Blue Cardinalis out but as I have lost alot of young plants through being eaten before they can take off I was thinking of covering them with plastic bottles (ends of course with holes for air). Any views on this and would it help?
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    In a word - no.  :)
    Slugs are present in the soil - underneath as well as above. 
    I take it you're talking about Lobelia? They're all slug magnets unfortunately. The best method is to grow the plants on until they're much bigger and stronger, before planting out. It's easier to keep an eye on them when potted, and you can take other steps to prevent slug damage more easily.
    Other than that, slug hunting at night and dispatching is the best 'deterrent' if you don't want to use chemicals.
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • CharlotteFCharlotteF Posts: 337
    I have had some success with this method, though it's not foolproof because as Fairygirl says they do live under the soil as well as foraging on top. I've only used it to allow seedlings to recover having already been munched but I will try it with some things at planting in future.

     If the plants are total slug magnets it's probably not going to have room for them to get to a size that they can shrug them off (depends how big the bottle is obviously).
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    Any barrier will reduce the potential for damage but unless you completely encircle a plant (above ground and below), as others have said, there's certainly no guarantee.

    Another vote for slug-hunts here.
    East Lancs
  • GwenrGwenr Posts: 150
    I've come to the conclusion that it is an ongoing battle with slugs and snails, this year was the worst one ever. After an amazing show of my Lupins, the slugs and snails moved in and destroyed them. So I'm now growing as many plants as possible that are less likely to be attacked. If you plant something they enjoy munching on, they will, even if you become as mad as me and go slug hunting every night.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    edited October 2021
    There are many plants that I don't even bother trying to grow. I stick with the plants that don't appeal to slugs and snails so much.  It saves a lot of stress!
    I grow a few hostas in pots where I can keep an eye on them but I wouldn't dream of trying to grow them in the ground.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    In an area like this, you quickly learn that many plants aren't worth the effort because of slugs and snails. 
    I'd spend my life hunting and dispatching them if I grew a lot of plants that I'd quite like to have, so I restrict it to the ones that I really like. Too much time and effort otherwise  :)
    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 was reading that some plants are avoided by slugs because they are poisonous to them or taste unpleasant. I wonder if it would be possible to make a concoction out of these plants that could be used as a deterrent spray.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I'd suggest there aren't many of those plants @B3  :D 
    Hostas look hideous here most of the time. Earlier in the year, I noticed plenty of them in gardens, and I remember thinking that I'd never seen them looking so good. It was because we had a very, very dry March into April. Fast forward to June/July and it was business as usual. Manky  :D
    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
    edited October 2021
    Penstemon and aquilegia might be worth a try @Fairygirl
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Aquilegias are never touched @B3, but penstemons aren't terribly hardy here. I'm not spending a fortune trying to find one that is either  ;)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
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