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Slug deterrent

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  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    The problem with salt is that it's a poison, and kills useful insects, not just slugs.  :/

    I hope you aren't actually removing pebbles from beaches either @Trace.1234a
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • I put a couple of slug traps out last night filled with cheap bitter having seen slugs munching on the buds of a Hydrangea and some primula’s about 8pm. Probably about a dozen in each trap. 

    How often does the beer need changing?

    Thanks.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,385
    I put a couple of slug traps out last night filled with cheap bitter having seen slugs munching on the buds of a Hydrangea and some primula’s about 8pm. Probably about a dozen in each trap. 

    How often does the beer need changing?

    Thanks.
    When you can no longer stand the smell?! :D
    At least that's what I do.  ;)
    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • SkandiSkandi Posts: 1,723
    AH the lovely fight with slugs, If you are already seeing full sized slugs (Spanish slugs) you have missed the window to use the pellets. They should be used as soon as you find the tiny newly hatched slugs so here that was early February. They do work and nothing else does on scale so it depends how large the area you need to protect is. Hand picking is fine, I can show you some lovely pictures of half full 12L buckets, and I can tell you that even picking that many up every couple of nights they can eat every single strawberry from 1300 plants and every lettuce in a row of 300.

    Hammering the slugs in late winter or early spring means you won't need to do anything much the rest of the year.

    If you have a smaller area you can protect it if you keep it clean, i.e no hiding places no coarse mulch etc. And if you are not next to wild areas that will constantly resupply you with new specimens.
  • What I'm doing is using pellets on all my beds which are being attacked by slugs and searching hiding places during the day and disposing of those. At the minute, no full-size slugs seen, just plenty of small ones and these are eating the pellets so hopefully that will have decent impact on the population. 
  • BigladBiglad Posts: 3,265
    How often does the beer need changing?

    Thanks.
    When the barrel is empty? ;)
    East Lancs
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Daytime searching is often an easier solution. The big snails we get here like to hide behind the slats on trellis, and in at the foot of Phormium foliage   :)
    Slugs are sneakier though, and can get into very small spaces...
    The important thing with the pellets is not to use them with gay abandon. A few - four or five round a plant, is plenty. More than that just attracts them and then they eat the plant as well. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • GardenerSuzeGardenerSuze Posts: 5,692
    @Wildlifelover Slug pellets kill wildlife.
    I have worked as a Gardener for 24 years. My latest garden is a new build garden on heavy clay.
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