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Slugs

paul_nicellpaul_nicell Posts: 3
in Problem solving
Can anyone tell me the best protection against slugs? I tried this copper mesh around my plants but by all the slime all over them it looks like that didn’t work.

What have methods have people tried that worked for them?
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Posts

  • SalixGoldSalixGold Posts: 450
    It really depends on the situation in your own garden. Things like copper, wool, lemons, gravel, coffee etc are just delusional and don't work at all. Clearing up the ground can help so there is not much detritus. Remove fallen twigs, leaves etc. Keep pots as high off the ground as you can - on a table or high shelf, if possible. 

    You can get slug guards. I know people who swear by them for smaller pots, hostas, lettuce etc.  I guess they don't work well for burrowing slugs, but for Spanish slugs etc they might work ok as long as you make sure the leaves are nowhere near the ground.



  • WaterbutWaterbut Posts: 344
    Jars filled with beer either buried up to their necks in soil or left standing on the patio. Sadly due to the price of beer this is becoming expensive. Then, according to my research, poor the contents onto the compost heap. Or go foraging for hedgehogs.
  • LiriodendronLiriodendron Posts: 8,328
    I'm led to believe that orange squash works as well as beer, though I've never tried it - but I can confirm that really cheap lager works just as well as proper stuff.  (I used A**a Smartprice.)
    Since 2019 I've lived in east Clare, in the west of Ireland.
  • B3B3 Posts: 27,505
    I read here somewhere that a teaspoon of yeast in water works. No idea If it does.
    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • rowlandscastle444rowlandscastle444 Posts: 2,612
    I started off by using slug pellets. That kills them, but also attracts the entire slug and snal population from miles around.

    I've used broken pieces of eggshell, and small sharp pieces of grit. They were effective.
      
    I've used copper tape around the tops of pots, and that has been very effective. But needs replacing every year.

    I've never tried the beer traps. 
  • plant pauperplant pauper Posts: 6,904
    Where's @fidgetbones when you need her? Her night time adventures with slugs are epic!
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    Here I am.  large bottle with handle.( I use laundry cleanser bottle) Pour some cheap salt into bottle. Put on rubber gloves. Go round garden on a dark damp night, pick the blighters up and bottle them. Make sure cap is screwed on tight.  Put in council rubbish bin.  I've collected around 3litres worth in the last three weeks, and still they come...
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    The slug pubs were filled up too. I use Lidl cheapest bitter.  Next morning I added about 50 slugs to the bottle containing all the snails.  At least the runner beans are starting to grow now.
  • fidgetbonesfidgetbones Posts: 17,618
    I'm thinking a head torch might be on my xmas list.
  • Songbird-2Songbird-2 Posts: 2,349
    Slug patrols armed with a trowel for squishing.🤢 
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