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Slugs

exegesisexegesis Posts: 22
in Talkback

Last year I planted a modest herbaceous border. This year I've tried everything to keep the slugs at bay; this includes pots and pots of beer which I would prefer to drink, and surrounding the plants with used plastic plant pots with their bottoms cut out and engineer's grease smeared around the rims. The march of the slugs is relentless, and I'd prefer to leave them because if we destroy the slugs we are putting the bird population at risk.

So, my question is: if I leave the plants to their own devices, will they get going and shrug off the attacks? How do those magnificent borders we see in country/stately homes manage? 

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Posts

  • LoganLogan Posts: 2,532
    I think lupins and delphiniums are the worst to atracked slugs, try putting fresh cat litter around them, I use it around my kale and I think it works
  • Katherine WKatherine W Posts: 410

    There are slugs pellets that are harmless to birds and pets.

    Right now we are over the spring slug phase here in SW France, and for future seasons I am experimenting with ducks as pest control. I will keep you postedimage

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    If you need to use a few slug pellets around your perenials then do so, as Jo says, the hedgerows are full of wild flowers, slugs and birds, So no need to feel guilty about your little patch of green. 

    As Katherine says, you can get harmless slug pellets, I use some especially for using on edibles. There will still be plenty of slugs around for the birds. 

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • FirecrackerFirecracker Posts: 256

    I don't use slug killers other than a knife at nightimage a few years ago I decided to count as I found them image when I got to 404 I stopped and went in.image

  • Hostafan1Hostafan1 Posts: 34,888

    I scattered " suet treats" when we first moved here and  it's encouraged blackbirds to forage, finding slugs,snails,and their eggs whilst about it.

    I have over 300 hostas ( yes three hundred) and rarely use pellets.

    Feed the birds and don't have a cat.

    Devon.
  • FirecrackerFirecracker Posts: 256

    We've got among other birds three Blackbird nests in the garden, maybe from last year, one male was feeding 5 baby's himself, we went through so many Cox apples image and bird food just for them.

  • Katherine WKatherine W Posts: 410

    My two very beloved cats haven't hunted birds in years, yet I still need to use slug pellets from time to time. All gardens are different, and the same garden is different in different years. New gardens with many small plants are always more vulnerable, and so are gardens with many seed grown annuals... so there are no absolute rulesimage

  • JIMMMYJIMMMY Posts: 241

    .

    This was supposed to be the year of the slug an snail, so far they have not been much trouble either in the garden or allotment!

    I have both a cat and a dog and use slug pellets,sparingly, neither the cat or dog bothers with them!

     

  • LoxleyLoxley Posts: 5,698
    I hate using pellets because I love hedgehogs. I used strong garlic tea to keep the buggers off my canna last year... it kind of worked. Needs vigilance though. I did the beer traps too. But prefer the smell of garlic to fermenting slug...



    This year I have in and used pellets, sparingly, early in the season. Seems to have helped A LOT but I don't like myself for giving in so easily.
    "What is hateful to you, do not do to your neighbour". 
  • sally smithsally smith Posts: 55

    Have you tried Slugone- a mulch and slug repellant made from sheep wool. Can get it on Amazon.

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