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Slug pellets are illegal

angelabritton1951angelabritton1951 Posts: 1
in Problem solving
Apparently slugs pellets from 01.04.2022 are banned from being sold and used by gardeners. It is illegal to use old or new pellets. I have tried egg shells and ground coffee neither worked. Beer traps are another suggestion. Any other suggestions?
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Posts

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    I don't think anyone will be knocking on your door to ask if you're using them up @angelabritton1951 :)
    There are countless threads about slug control on the forum, so you might want to use the search facility above. Picking them off and dispatching is usually the most effective, especially at this time of year, or slightly earlier, to help prevent the damage to new growth on any emerging plants. 
    Shells of any kind definitely have no effect. They regularly climb our house walls - which are covered in that type of finish. I mostly grow plants which shrug them off, and I don't overfeed plants, which also helps. Growing them harder makes them less susceptible to damage and they recover better from it.  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    edited April 2022
    It's the slug pellets that contain metaldehyde that have been banned, and rightly so.
    You can still buy slug pellets that contain ferric phosphate which is harmless to wildlife - so not sure if it actually works or not

    RHS Trials on ferric phosphate slug pellets here - they do work apparently
    https://www.gardenorganic.org.uk/news/rhs-trials-organic-slug-pellets-perform-better-those-toxic-metaldehyde

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    I haven't seen anything about all slug pellets being banned - do you have chapter and verse 

    Or is it just an online myth doing the rounds?
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    No - as @Pete.8says, the ones containing metaldehyde have been banned, or are no longer for sale is probably the correct terminology. 
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I use slug pubs with cheap bitter in, although I have been reading that they like lager even more.
  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    Weren't they banned some time ago?
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • AnniDAnniD Posts: 12,585
    Only a certain type as @Pete.8 says
    https://vethelpdirect.com/vetblog/2022/04/02/why-have-slug-pellets-been-banned-in-the-uk/

    I think there was also some confusion as it came into law on 1st April and it wasn't made clear that it wasn't all types. Some people thought it was an April Fools joke.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 11,340
    It was supposed to be banned in 2019, but the Govt didn't get round to it..

    Billericay - Essex

    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,147
    I find the slugs really like Adnams Broadside … so does my OH … sometimes he lets them have a little … 

    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • philippasmith2philippasmith2 Posts: 3,742
    You may not be able to buy the metaldahyde pellets but you can continue to use them.  No authority is policing their use so it remains up to the individual.
    As with anything else, take care and use sensibly if that is your chosen solution.
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