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garden pest attacking my baby plants
Shelley PEMBROKESHIRE
Posts: 88
CAN I PUT AROUND FLOWERS OTHER THAN SLUG PELLETS TO STOP, PESTS EATING THEM?
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My garden has a lot of caterpillars this year, little you can do about that apart from go out and pick em off. You can try systemic garlic sprays (you boil a clove of garlic then let it cool and spray that on all your plants). It does work but is systemic so takes months for the plants to take up the garlic odor, which puts off many herbivores. Your garden will also smell of it...
Hi Shelley,
I have some young Sunflowers that are getting a hammering from slugs and snails. Tonight I tried something and tomorrow I'll find out if it worked.
Take an empty plastic coke bottle,say the 2 litre ones. Get a sharp knife and slice off the top and likewise the bottom.You should be left with a plastic 'cylinder'. Now cut this lengthwise on one side from top to bottom.Get some neat washing up liquid and smear a line of it around the outside of the plastic bottle.Then place it around the plant,pushing it slightly into the soil/compost. The bottle,being plastic will spring back to its cylindrical shape around the plant and the line of washing up liquid 'should' prevent critters from slithering up and dropping inside.Well that's the theory anyway
thank you, it my sunflower getting a hammering 2 will try your theory
If my slug killing session just now hasn't worked Fishy I will try your tip tomorrow. Last night I lost a Velvet Queen and a Black Magic sunflower, I bought them especially for the colour and they had grown into lovely plants so am not a happy bunny!! I have been out 3 times tonight and killed about a dozen slugs which have gone on the lawn for the birds in the morning. I also found a couple of baby frogs so have put them on the border, away from the dogs and also in the hope that they will find their supper
I don't know where the frogs tonight have come from, we don't have a pond and none of the neighbours do?? There were a couple the other night too, I actually wet all the patio for them.....then realised it would also encourage the slugs
What do you do with the slugs and saline solution Verdun?
Fishy65 - what happens if it rains? Will you find soap-suds in your container? It probably won't harm the plants in the short term whilst they get going, but I would recommend a smear of garlic paste around the rim and sides instead. The slugs and snails won't like it at all.
That's a good point Lilydotwin,though the smear of washing up liquid is minimal.However,if this works then I think garlic would indeed be a better choice
My sunflowers were safe last night
Mine too OL,no evidence of additional damage so now they might be able to push on.Once they get big enough they'll be able to stand up to a nibbling snail here and there