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Helps to stop slug damage

MrsCompostMrsCompost Posts: 4
in Problem solving
Just wanted to pass on something that seems to be working.  Due to all the issues around slug pellets and harm to wildlife we don’t use these anymore but my early plants got really hammered this year.  The only thing that has helped is to smear a good ring of petroleum jelly (about a £1 for a big tub in bargain shops) around the top of planters and pots - it’s working so far :-). My delphinium got a real mauling so I’ve cut a hole in a plastic pot and pulled the remaining stems up through it and smeared it with the jelly.  So far, so good!
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  • mikeymustardmikeymustard Posts: 495
    Wow, who'dve thought it?
    It seems almost counterintuitive to smear grease on to stop our slimy chums! I'm gonna give this a look.
    @Fire have you experimented with this method?
  • bcpathomebcpathome Posts: 1,313
    It’s what my dad did way back for snails. Didn’t always work though .
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    mikeymustard said:

    @Fire have you experimented with this method?

    No, but I have heard about it. I think it's probably as hit and miss as the rest of the methods. If you already have slug eggs in the planters - that wil cause problems.

    The most guaranteed method is to set up a salt table, if you have pots.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I suppose if there's slug eggs in the pot, it might stop the hatched ones from getting out. ( do slugs hatch or is that just things with hard shells?) You'd know where to find the slugs anyway😒
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • Slow-wormSlow-worm Posts: 1,630
    Two strips of copper tape works for me. 
  • GrajeanGrajean Posts: 447
    Fire, whats a salt table?
  • ShepsSheps Posts: 2,236
    Grajean said:
    Fire, whats a salt table?
    Was just about to ask the same question.
  • msqingxiaomsqingxiao Posts: 482
    MrsCompost said:
    Just wanted to pass on something that seems to be working.  Due to all the issues around slug pellets and harm to wildlife we don’t use these anymore but my early plants got really hammered this year.  The only thing that has helped is to smear a good ring of petroleum jelly (about a £1 for a big tub in bargain shops) around the top of planters and pots - it’s working so far :-). My delphinium got a real mauling so I’ve cut a hole in a plastic pot and pulled the remaining stems up through it and smeared it with the jelly.  So far, so good!
    I tried it in the past and it didn't work, and I'm left with some greasy plant pots... Copper tape doesn't guard pots 100% either. 

    However, my delphiniums this year are going strong. Think they grew quite big in Apr already when it was fairly dry, before the slugs came out in warmer wetter weather in May. I put a bottomless plastic tray with copper tape wrapped around it over the smaller one, which probably helped too.
  • FireFire Posts: 19,096
    On my decking (which isn't near from any earth) I put a table or growing house with each foot in a large pot of salt. Use 'clean' earth for seedlings or plants in pots. Make sure the table or greenhouse is far enough away from hedging or walls such that slugs can't stretch over. With a growing house, make sure any fabric isn't too near the earth such that slugs can bridge.

    This set up worked for me because I have concrete under the deck and it has run off straight into a rain drain - not over any earth. If it rains, the pots can fill with water but then as it drys, the salt recrystalises. Top up the salt as needed.
  • MrsCompostMrsCompost Posts: 4
    msqingxiao said:
    MrsCompost said:
    Just wanted to pass on something that seems to be working.  Due to all the issues around slug pellets and harm to wildlife we don’t use these anymore but my early plants got really hammered this year.  The only thing that has helped is to smear a good ring of petroleum jelly (about a £1 for a big tub in bargain shops) around the top of planters and pots - it’s working so far :-). My delphinium got a real mauling so I’ve cut a hole in a plastic pot and pulled the remaining stems up through it and smeared it with the jelly.  So far, so good!
    I tried it in the past and it didn't work, and I'm left with some greasy plant pots... Copper tape doesn't guard pots 100% either. 

    However, my delphiniums this year are going strong. Think they grew quite big in Apr already when it was fairly dry, before the slugs came out in warmer wetter weather in May. I put a bottomless plastic tray with copper tape wrapped around it over the smaller one, which probably helped too.
    Just keeping an eye on the delphiniums - doing okay so far so hoping for the best.  The rest of the planters have been slug free for the past month so looking hopeful :-) 
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