The cheapest method I have found is baking foil cut into strips and stuck round the rim, or on raised beds pinned around the edge of the bed sides and leave a quarter inch gap. Tape a piece of fine wire to each of the ends where the gap is, then tape each wire to a small torch battery either to each of the poles positive and negative, or the positive end and the bottom which would be negative of a small round battery, as soon as the slug or snail touches the foil it gets a shock, works every time. Test it with a small pot before you spend time doing all pots or beds, even half dead batteries are enough to deter them.
I've used old cable, stripped to bare copper, wrapped around pots and twisted together where it meets. This seems to do the trick.
I don't think it's the width of copper, but just the substance itself which when wet seems to take on a small electrical charge.
I've found this works better with two lots of cable set about 1/4 inch apart so any persistent slugs will span the two and get a better shock!
A bit fiddly sometimes as it seems to slide down the cone shape of the pot but I've stuck mine on with silicone and when using fresh pots turned upside down overnight until it cures.
I've never used copper tape. I moved to Devon 2 years ago and our soil is dense solid clay with a liberal sprinkling of solid rock. Mulch , mulch and mulch again: anything coarse will do. I contacted local tree surgeons and one now drops off shredded tree material which otherwise would go to landfill. Try that, it's free and, added to grass clippings makes great compost.
The other piece of advice I'd give is , BEFRIEND BLACKBIRDS AND THRUSHES. I have over 200 hostas and I never have to use pellets. Sprinkle the suet based bird food around and the blackbirds will be onto it, and the slugs, snails and their eggs at the same time. Don't use bird seed as much of it will germinate on open soil.
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I'd imagine most reasonable sized garden centres would stock it Steve. Certainly if you are near a B&Q or Homebase they have it
B&Q SLUG TAPE
HOMEBASE SLUG TAPE
Try this a mat that is said to help it has copper in it
http://www.pippagreenwood.com/product/153/slug-snail-and-weed-mat-ha139
Many thanks.
I've used old cable, stripped to bare copper, wrapped around pots and twisted together where it meets. This seems to do the trick.
I don't think it's the width of copper, but just the substance itself which when wet seems to take on a small electrical charge.
I've found this works better with two lots of cable set about 1/4 inch apart so any persistent slugs will span the two and get a better shock!
A bit fiddly sometimes as it seems to slide down the cone shape of the pot but I've stuck mine on with silicone and when using fresh pots turned upside down overnight until it cures.
Sheep wool laid in a circle around the stem of plants works.
I've never used copper tape. I moved to Devon 2 years ago and our soil is dense solid clay with a liberal sprinkling of solid rock. Mulch , mulch and mulch again: anything coarse will do. I contacted local tree surgeons and one now drops off shredded tree material which otherwise would go to landfill. Try that, it's free and, added to grass clippings makes great compost.
The other piece of advice I'd give is , BEFRIEND BLACKBIRDS AND THRUSHES. I have over 200 hostas and I never have to use pellets. Sprinkle the suet based bird food around and the blackbirds will be onto it, and the slugs, snails and their eggs at the same time. Don't use bird seed as much of it will germinate on open soil.