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slugs

Nancy 3Nancy 3 Posts: 9
in Problem solving
hi, after using salt and beer to no avail, i used the blue slug pellets and found out afterwards that they are poisonous. My children really want to go out and play and plant in the soil but i dont know how long these pellets last or when it will be safe for the children to go now. I scattered them about a week ago killing thousands, all i saw was slime everywhere. I still see the pellets in the soil though, please help.
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  • hogweedhogweed Posts: 4,053

    Some slug pellets are only poisonous to slugs. Have you read the packet/bottle thoroughly?

    'Optimism is the faith that leads to achievement' - Helen Keller
  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    Can you get your children gardening gloves (depending on whether they're old enough to know not to eat the slug pellets) supplemented with frequent hand washing and keep them to an area that you haven't scattered the pellets or did the entire garden get a liberal coating?

    You might find this link useful: http://www.slugoff.co.uk/killing-slugs/ (It also gives you child friendly ideas like using oats)

    If you're still concerned how about getting the kids some plants to put in pots?

  • Nancy 3Nancy 3 Posts: 9
    thank you so much for the replies, there wasnt any warning on the bottle label, got the extra info of the net. Thanks for the link, quite useful, my youngest is two and has her own gardening tools, but likes to use bare hands and sometimes like to eat anything within reach. thats why i was wondering now that ive done the deed and scattered the pellets all over the garden, including pots, how it can be undone or how long now til its safe for the kids to carry on pottering about their plants?
  • treehugger80treehugger80 Posts: 1,923

    you can get the blue slug pellets that contain iron (ferric or ferrous) chemicals, its organic and safe for both wildlife (I would include many of the children I know in this category) and pets

  • bekkie hughesbekkie hughes Posts: 5,294
    If you post what the ingredients are (if you can find them) im sure someone on here will know exactly what to do image
  • Nancy 3Nancy 3 Posts: 9
    brand, bayer garden, title, slug and snail killer, contains, bitrex, 3% w/w metaldehyde as a pelleted bait formulation, total alien language to me im afraid????
  • Hortum-cretaeHortum-cretae Posts: 979

    What about the new product, 'SLUG GONE' which is made of sheep's wool. It comes in pelleted form and slugs are put off the protected plant by its dessicating effect. Organic, harmless to other wildlife (admittedly it doesn't kill the slugs either, but hedgehogs and other predators might be pleased), and not garishly blue in amongst the flowers. HC

  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    Bitrex is a product designed (from what I can gather) to make goods very bitter to prevent children from swallowing them.

    An 3% mix of metaldehyde makes it a stronger brand of slug pellet (designed to be scattered over a vaster area more thinly than the normal product) which unfortunately can cause you problems (I can't tell you how many your children would have to eat to cause problems but they would be classed as harmful if swallowed / inhaled / exposed to skin*).

     

    *convulsions, nausea, sweating, dizziness.

  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    This might be of use to you (safety data sheet).

    http://www.bayergarden.co.uk/~/media/Bayer%20CropScience/Bayer%20Garden/safety%20sheets/UK/Natria%20Slug%20%20Snail%20Control%20v1.ashx

    Unfortunately I'm struggling to find any documents that tell you how long it remains active once it hits the soil.

  • ClaringtonClarington Posts: 4,949

    (The website Bayer does recommend its kept away from children which may answer your original question and only suggests a maximum dose of 6 applications a year which unfortunately does nothing to telling you how long it lasts - presumably at least two months if you were to apply throughout the year?)

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