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Whats munching my hosta ?

Nadger the badgerNadger the badger Posts: 29
in Talkback
Hello everybody Something has been munching the leaves of my hosta and my fatsia Definately not snails, i suspect an airbourne culprit. Any ideas/ remedies ?
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Posts

  • Lou12Lou12 Posts: 1,149

    hostas are terrible slug and snail bait, mine turn into doilies overnight so I've given up.

     

  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190

    I assume you are using lots of slug pellets as you are sure its not slugs and snails.

    What are the munched bits like, chewed from the edges or holes in the middles of the leaves.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

  • Nadger the badgerNadger the badger Posts: 29
    Holes are in the middle of the leaf and no slime tracks
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    They don't all leave slime tracks.  They don't start munching until they get to the piece of leaf they fancy.

    Sometimes they climb up a tall neighbouring plant and use their weight to lower themselves down into the middle of a chosen leaf - trust me, I've seen them do it! image

    If something is munching a hosta, it is a mollusc! 


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Nadger the badgerNadger the badger Posts: 29
    Looks like its time for the pellets then

    Thanks for the input everybody

    Nadger
  • DovefromaboveDovefromabove Posts: 88,138

    Just a few pellets Nadger - use the ones that contain Ferrous somethingorother, not the ones with metaldehyde - and use them a little way away from the plants, not close to, because they actually contain something that attracts the slugs to them and you don't want to attract slugs near to your hosta!

    Make some slug pubs too http://www.slugoff.co.uk/killing-slugs/beer-trap  They're brilliant because the slugs don't need a whole bottle of beer a day so someone has to finish it off for them image


    Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.





  • Nadger the badgerNadger the badger Posts: 29
    I can do that????
  • LynLyn Posts: 23,190
    Verdun wrote (see)

    It is a mistake to use lots of slugs pellets. Too many and they become an attractant.

    touch wood......I grow several hostas both in the ground and in pots and they are still hardly touched by slugs etc.

    I use pellets sparingly....perhaps 6 pellets or so (I don't exactly count themimage.....under each hosta.  Replenished after heavy rainfall.  

    A combination of pellets, clean environment (no decaying materials nearby) and night time visits with torch and salt solution seems to be effective.

    i also feel not allowing hostas to flower is a factor......decaying flowers are hugely attractive to slugs.  hosta foliage is never as good after flowering either.  I have a few I allow to flower in pots.

    Me too, Verdun, if any, I just thought that the OP WAS using them which was why he was so sure it wasnt slugs or snails.

    Gardening on the wild, windy west side of Dartmoor. 

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