We have a pond, hedgehogs and plenty of birds yet the slugs are so numerous,
TBH they're always going to be. The wildlife helps (more than you'd imagine) but the slugs 'n' snails will never be reduced to the levels that I think you'd be happy with. The only thing I can suggest is planting stuff they don't like and approach it in a positive way.. gardening is supposed to be enjoyable.
Quite so @Chris-P-Bacon, that's exactly what I meant earlier. Gardens have to suit the conditions, and the amount of time the person has for maintaining them. Constantly fighting with nature doesn't work, and defeats the whole purpose of having a garden to start with
I use a lot of structural planting, which suited me when I worked full time, and is also highly beneficial in the long winter months, but it also means the vast majority of the garden isn't terribly attractive to them. We still have masses of them, but it becomes less of a chore keeping them at bay.
Right plant, right place applies to pest control just as much as anything else
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
We have a pond, hedgehogs and plenty of birds yet the slugs are so numerous,
TBH they're always going to be. The wildlife helps (more than you'd imagine) but the slugs 'n' snails will never be reduced to the levels that I think you'd be happy with. The only thing I can suggest is planting stuff they don't like and approach it in a positive way.. gardening is supposed to be enjoyable.
Agree with @Chris-P-Bacon and @Fairygirl - the garden is a natural space and you do have to share with other species if it isn't to become completely sterile. There's no doubt that SaS's can prove a real problem sometimes but it is unlikely that you will be able to eliminate them entirely. Reducing their numbers in specific areas of your garden is the best you can hope for.
What works for me is to cultivate/ encourage self seeded wildflowers like toadflax, feverfew, wild marjoram , primrose, valerian euphorbia, centaurea etc etc and buy only varieties of the things that the slugs don't eat - there are loads. If I try something that gets decimated, I shrug my shoulders, compost it and get something else. I always buy smallish plants so the losses are not so expensive - just disappointing.
We have a pond, hedgehogs and plenty of birds yet the slugs are so numerous,
TBH they're always going to be. The wildlife helps (more than you'd imagine) but the slugs 'n' snails will never be reduced to the levels that I think you'd be happy with. The only thing I can suggest is planting stuff they don't like and approach it in a positive way.. gardening is supposed to be enjoyable.
I don't mind a night-time hunt. Combined with using marigolds as a distraction, I kept them off my edibles last year. They can eat what they want as long as I don't want to eat it as well
If they munch something to the ground, I'll replace it with something else.
I found it reduced the slug damage to a Canna I was growing, but I don't think treating the whole garden would work. It seems to makes leaves less palatable, but they will still get nibbled. So it works better if there is a specific plant you want to dissuade the slugs from attacking.
"What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour".
Not 100% foolproof, but I've found one brand, Doff(?), do a fine variety of the blue pellets that make it possible to apply more of a 'dust' than the larger ones and seem to be reasonably effective.
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The only thing I can suggest is planting stuff they don't like and approach it in a positive way.. gardening is supposed to be enjoyable.
https://www.capitalgardens.co.uk/blog/driven-mad-slugs-snails-7-plants-hate/
Any chance of a photo of your garden - I'm guessing it may be in deep shade & quite damp.
Gardens have to suit the conditions, and the amount of time the person has for maintaining them. Constantly fighting with nature doesn't work, and defeats the whole purpose of having a garden to start with
I use a lot of structural planting, which suited me when I worked full time, and is also highly beneficial in the long winter months, but it also means the vast majority of the garden isn't terribly attractive to them. We still have masses of them, but it becomes less of a chore keeping them at bay.
Right plant, right place applies to pest control just as much as anything else
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
There's no doubt that SaS's can prove a real problem sometimes but it is unlikely that you will be able to eliminate them entirely. Reducing their numbers in specific areas of your garden is the best you can hope for.
If I try something that gets decimated, I shrug my shoulders, compost it and get something else.
I always buy smallish plants so the losses are not so expensive - just disappointing.
If they munch something to the ground, I'll replace it with something else.