You might be better trying primulas for winter colour @*Astrantia*. When I moved into this house 9 years ago, there wasn't really any garden, and I picked up a few bits and pieces for pots etc, including some polyanthus in B&Q for pennies. They did a grand job for a few months until I got some native primulas etc, and they're all planted in the front garden now. They were really a bit too bright for what I wanted, but they flower on and off all year round here, as do the native ones. That may not be the case where you are, but it could be worth trying. They shrug off the slugs better
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I got some primroses yesterday!! Thanks fairygirl for the advice! I’ve removed the violas into the pots the primroses came in and I’ll see if they revive.
Depending on the type of potted display you want, you can add other things too, and swap them around depending on the season. I have a little Uncinia rubra which has dark red foliage, and that would look good with reddish Heucheras, or ones with red veining [as I had below] and would have worked with the dark violas I had - in the pic below. That was from the beginning of January 2 years ago [hence the Christmas lights!] and those violas were still flowering in April, having been there since autumn. I just swapped things around accordingly, adding other plants as some went over, like those bulbs just peeking through.
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
FWIW mine are in a raised wooden planter on the patio and are going really well - no signs of slug damage. I have another ready to plant in the spring so I will probably put hostas in it as the slugs and snails love them too...
Raised beds won't stop slugs - they can climb to a fair old height, so I wouldn't make the assumption that it'll stop them. If they're in the soil - they don't necessarily appear from outside the beds either. They climb the walls here to around 6 feet anyway, and I often see them near the top of the neighbour's garage Our house walls have crushed shell on the render - another method of deterring them... apparently
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes Fg, I know that they can climb. I used to have them 8 feet up the walls of my last house ! So far so good here though - the patio has a layer of stone clippings below the planters which probably helps as well. I think planters do help though as it’s a bit further for them to go and they are much more visible when you are out with that bucket if salty water
Bucket of salty water eh @muckyhandsmike ? I just squish underfoot
My raised beds are all on gravel, but it doesn't stop the little blighters unfortunately. I accepted a long time ago that we have huge numbers of slugs and there isn't much I can do about it. There aren't huge numbers of keen gardeners round here either, so they probably stop off at the most convenient buffet
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Yes those leopard slugs are well named to be honest I’m always a bit torn about doing for them as I believe that they eat a lot of other slugs .... getting the slime off your fingers is a bit of a bummer ... maybe it could be of use to the glue makers being serious though slugs and snails can do a great job of clearing up garden waste ... as long as they stay away from my flowers and veg I leave them alone !
Spanish slugs. Make no mistake, Spanish slugs are the enemy of every garden they invade. They have no predators, do no good and love our conditions so they breed with huge success.
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When I moved into this house 9 years ago, there wasn't really any garden, and I picked up a few bits and pieces for pots etc, including some polyanthus in B&Q for pennies. They did a grand job for a few months until I got some native primulas etc, and they're all planted in the front garden now. They were really a bit too bright for what I wanted, but they flower on and off all year round here, as do the native ones.
That may not be the case where you are, but it could be worth trying. They shrug off the slugs better
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
I have a little Uncinia rubra which has dark red foliage, and that would look good with reddish Heucheras, or ones with red veining [as I had below] and would have worked with the dark violas I had - in the pic below.
That was from the beginning of January 2 years ago [hence the Christmas lights!] and those violas were still flowering in April, having been there since autumn. I just swapped things around accordingly, adding other plants as some went over, like those bulbs just peeking through.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
They climb the walls here to around 6 feet anyway, and I often see them near the top of the neighbour's garage
Our house walls have crushed shell on the render - another method of deterring them... apparently
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
My raised beds are all on gravel, but it doesn't stop the little blighters unfortunately. I accepted a long time ago that we have huge numbers of slugs and there isn't much I can do about it.
There aren't huge numbers of keen gardeners round here either, so they probably stop off at the most convenient buffet
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
to be honest I’m always a bit torn about doing for them as I believe that they eat a lot of other slugs ....
getting the slime off your fingers is a bit of a bummer ... maybe it could be of use to the glue makers
being serious though slugs and snails can do a great job of clearing up garden waste ... as long as they stay away from my flowers and veg I leave them alone !