I used to get herds of slugs in my 100ft garden, which I would collect on damp evenings ,around 50 on average, after using nematodes for a season its about half a dozen, I appreciate they are not cheap, but they definitely work.
Oh slugs! my nemesis, the one thing they do for me, is an excuse to slug hunt, along with a torch and bucket, what a way to spend a wonderful hour or so picking over the leaves,taking in what is or not a good bit of planting,also condition of plants. One product i have used is a liquid called Slugclear not bad .
If you collect slugs in a high sided container, with small wild bird seed in the bottom. Roll the slugs in the bird seed, then when you have a few, pop them on the bird table. Spread some bird seed on the table first, this stops escapiees!
I also use beer traps with great success and go out at least a couple of times in the evenings to catch and dispose of slugs and snails. Last year I also put whole cabbage leaves around my young plants and found that the slugs and snails prefered the cabbage leaves; I also found some of them hiding under the leaves in the mornings.
Many years ago during the early evening I was crawling up my garden path on my hands and knees looking under low growing plants to find slugs and snails when I was suddenly aware of someone watching me. My neighbour was watching me from his bedroom window with a really puzzled look on his face. I bet he thought I had gone completely mad!
in which he talks about all gardens having bad slug problems except Hever Castle!
I'd like to add to that. I've worked in other large public gardens that didn't have bad slug problems. I concluded that the whole ecosystem of the garden was working to reduce slug populations. There would be plenty of birds, mammals and reptiles and the slugs didn't have a chance to get out of hand. This is obviously cold comfort to anyone struggling with slugs in a normal garden - myself included. However I do believe that the answer can lie in getting wildlife to work for us. Having said that, nematodes - as Copperbottom says, are very effective.
my garden has been devastated by something and it could well be slugs now i have read this! I never really thought it would be in the winter but maybe it is....
I have used equine garlic powder, sprinkled fairly liberally around my vegetables. It has worked a treat - my chillies have remained intact, and un-slugged, for the last two years. Definitely highly recommended!
It really amuses me to see how many, go out with a torch at night, slug hunting. I thought I was the only one. I didn't try that until I spent £10 on three Mecanopsis. They were completely gone next morning. I found, with a torch, that I had simply dozens of them. I now only use pellets in early spring, before frogs, etc., awake; then out come the "garden" scissors which I find most effective of all. Off with the heads so no slow death and no recovery. Now the problem is not so great. Old gardener.
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I used to get herds of slugs in my 100ft garden, which I would collect on damp evenings ,around 50 on average, after using nematodes for a season its about half a dozen, I appreciate they are not cheap, but they definitely work.
If you collect slugs in a high sided container, with small wild bird seed in the bottom. Roll the slugs in the bird seed, then when you have a few, pop them on the bird table. Spread some bird seed on the table first, this stops escapiees!
I also use beer traps with great success and go out at least a couple of times in the evenings to catch and dispose of slugs and snails. Last year I also put whole cabbage leaves around my young plants and found that the slugs and snails prefered the cabbage leaves; I also found some of them hiding under the leaves in the mornings.
Many years ago during the early evening I was crawling up my garden path on my hands and knees looking under low growing plants to find slugs and snails when I was suddenly aware of someone watching me. My neighbour was watching me from his bedroom window with a really puzzled look on his face. I bet he thought I had gone completely mad!
I hope all the slug haters have read James' latest blog:
http://www.gardenersworld.com/blogs/gardeners-musings/most-common-garden-pests/3297.html
in which he talks about all gardens having bad slug problems except Hever Castle!
I'd like to add to that. I've worked in other large public gardens that didn't have bad slug problems. I concluded that the whole ecosystem of the garden was working to reduce slug populations. There would be plenty of birds, mammals and reptiles and the slugs didn't have a chance to get out of hand. This is obviously cold comfort to anyone struggling with slugs in a normal garden - myself included. However I do believe that the answer can lie in getting wildlife to work for us. Having said that, nematodes - as Copperbottom says, are very effective.
Emma.
gardenersworld.com team
my garden has been devastated by something and it could well be slugs now i have read this! I never really thought it would be in the winter but maybe it is....
A big container of (very) salty water works wonders as does big boots against the little horrors although they seem to appear just as thick next day.
I have used equine garlic powder, sprinkled fairly liberally around my vegetables. It has worked a treat - my chillies have remained intact, and un-slugged, for the last two years. Definitely highly recommended!
It really amuses me to see how many, go out with a torch at night, slug hunting. I thought I was the only one. I didn't try that until I spent £10 on three Mecanopsis. They were completely gone next morning. I found, with a torch, that I had simply dozens of them. I now only use pellets in early spring, before frogs, etc., awake; then out come the "garden" scissors which I find most effective of all. Off with the heads so no slow death and no recovery. Now the problem is not so great. Old gardener.