Forum home› Problem solving
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Dahlias

HeyJudeHeyJude Posts: 26
in Problem solving

I would love to have Bishop of Llandaf in my garden but it gets razed to the ground overnight by slugs/snails. So I've given up- any ideas? Some clematis are very susceptible too and its getting to that time of year when new growth is starting- I 've got 3 x1 yr old plants I'd like to help come on.

I don;t like to use Slugget and  have tried most organic methods without much success e.g. drowning in alcohol( yuck) picking them off (double yuck) eggshells , sheeps fur poo, etc..

I don't have a thrush and I'd love to have a hedgehog but not seen one- we have got some frogs...( town garden, trying to be wildlife friendly)

Posts

  • Dave MorganDave Morgan Posts: 3,123

    Sometimes things are best grown in pots Heyjude. Dahlias do well in pots with good feeding and watering. Stick copper tape around the rim and raise the pot off the ground works a treat.

  • HeyJudeHeyJude Posts: 26

    i'll try it- thanks

  • HeyJudeHeyJude Posts: 26

    I'll try the coffee

  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117

    Always an issue here with clematis Heyjude. Picking them off as new shoots emerge is the best way for me.  Initially, potting them on as young plants into bigger pots (to get a good sturdy plant ) before putting them out is also beneficial. Sharp grit on those pots. Easier to keep an eye on them that way. image

    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • BobFlannigonBobFlannigon Posts: 619

    Last year I put them all into pots (actually I originally did so to make it easier to store them in the winter) and decided to bury the bottom inch or so of the pot so that the slugs had nowhere to sleep/hide.

    I can't say that's what worked but none of them got eaten at least.  

    Good luck.

     

  • HeyJudeHeyJude Posts: 26
    Well I gave up on Bishop of Llandaf, but I succeeded with Marie Schnugg (sp?)( in pots ) which the butterflies and bees loved. Trying one in the soil over the winter to see how it fares next year...

  • ButtercupdaysButtercupdays Posts: 4,546
    edited November 2018
    I've got lots of different dahlias and have always found that particular Bishop a bit delicate - slow to start, thinner stems and smaller leaves than most others.
    I always start mine in pots in the GH and get them to a good size before planting out and then add a thick circle of grit. By waiting till later you also ensure that there are plenty of other things around that the slugs might fancy, so your dahlia isn't the only thing on the menu!
    He grew well for me this year, I think he liked the sun!
  • tessagardenbarmytessagardenbarmy Posts: 346
    Pots are the way  then you can place the whole pot and dahlia in a bare patch and move them round to where needed.
  • pottiepampottiepam Posts: 203
    Hello,
     got the same problem with slugs but go out every night with a touch, plastic gloves and a bowl of salty water for the slugs. After a few weeks growth the slugs don't seem interested.
Sign In or Register to comment.