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Slugs
Bonsai-Marc
Posts: 444
i didnt think i would get many slugs around my new raised strawberry patch
but our 1st major rain since they came into bloom and i am finding many tiny little slugs appraoching
i looked at pellets but yes want to avoid due to my hedgehog that visits and having a toddler in the garden
what are my options, i will try a couple of beer traps for now but wanted to use pellets if were away and not easily accessible but is still a risk. back of the bed etc
but maybe its just not worth the risk?
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Posts
Can you go out at night and collect them with a torch? That's what I do. They say the Iron Phosphate ones are less toxic but they still can be toxic to animals which eat them. http://www.hostalibrary.org/firstlook/RRIronPhosphate.htm Beer traps will catch a few but not many. If you spend a few nights out there, the problem gets a bit better. On nights without rain, you can also try a circle of bran. Or nematodes.
i dont get home till 830 this week and already run out for a fews things each night, i can pick up some, albeit they are tiny and hard to pick up
nematodes sound interesting
well i wanted to do some pellets around the raised bed, i have wood poles sourrounding
i wouldnt think the hedgehogs would go up there but always possible
then im more worried if my toddler daughter touched them
I caught A LOT last night with beer traps. I refilled them for tonight. I even got some yellow snails that dont normally bother with the beer traps.
do you cover the top of traps to stop water filling up?
these nematodes sound like an effective solution just at a larger price
I've put 4 little piles of pellets in the border and covered over with upturned plant saucers, keeps them dry and contained rather than scattered everywhere.
I go out in the morning to collect the corpses and bin em, others still keep coming back for more.
Collected loads of snails this morning, they all came out as it was rainy and were fairly easy to spot.
Beer traps! I must investigate this... not sure my H will approve of the 'wastage' of beer in his eyes though!
it rained a lot in the night but it didnt stop them. i use lidl cheapest beer.
ive ordered some nematodes and will do a couple of beer traps on ground around the raised bed
and here is my idea of some beer traps (found at work), submerge half way and add windows to allow slugs in and leave green roof on to stop rain
i may even spray them black so blend in to the garden better
Right, getting some beer traps - I'm too lazy to make them myself
I will certainly not be using the 'good stuff' on the slugs!