I wouldn't use pellets with small children around, even with netting. In a small area, nematodes, beer traps, hand picking all help, but you have to accept some losses. If netting is a problem - and this is birds, not slugs, you can use that very fine fleece type of cover that protects against butterflies and other small pests. As far as I am aware, birds don't get caught in it. Tetley will know.
It does work, but they break down very quickly especially when it rains. A Google also found some reports that it is toxic to animals, with poisonings reported. But I have only skimmed the Google results, so do your own research if interested. Incidentally normal pellets are made to taste bitter, whereas apparently these aren't making them potentally more dangerous, assuming this is a fact rather than internet nonsense.
As to normal slug pellets, there seems to be a lot of scare stories around. Certainly you do not want them around if you have a baby, or pets. But what does is needed to be dangerous to animals? Here is a link which suggests that they are not a serious danger to hedgehogs albeit perhaps not desirable when hogs are about:
They are not wrong when they say the mild winter has caused an increase in slugs and snails, my slugs have had a population explosion! I'm removing twice as many as I've done in previous years to try and protect the new seedlings. I've flattened some old copper pipe to put around the campanula and harebell as they seems to be a gourmet dish in the hopes that they will help with the problem. I'm hoping that Mr Rivvit the frog will start skinny dipping in the pond soon, it's very handy for the new bed!
Posts
I wouldn't use pellets with small children around, even with netting. In a small area, nematodes, beer traps, hand picking all help, but you have to accept some losses. If netting is a problem - and this is birds, not slugs, you can use that very fine fleece type of cover that protects against butterflies and other small pests. As far as I am aware, birds don't get caught in it. Tetley will know.
id only use pellets at the back end of the patch which i can block off from toddler and would mean also climbing onto the bed
but avoiding for now
iv just ordered this and it had some really good reviews.....
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/331848057767?_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT
It does work, but they break down very quickly especially when it rains. A Google also found some reports that it is toxic to animals, with poisonings reported. But I have only skimmed the Google results, so do your own research if interested. Incidentally normal pellets are made to taste bitter, whereas apparently these aren't making them potentally more dangerous, assuming this is a fact rather than internet nonsense.
As to normal slug pellets, there seems to be a lot of scare stories around. Certainly you do not want them around if you have a baby, or pets. But what does is needed to be dangerous to animals? Here is a link which suggests that they are not a serious danger to hedgehogs albeit perhaps not desirable when hogs are about:
http://www.hedgehogstreet.org/pages/slug-pellets.html
'does' should have been 'dose'. Sigh.
They are not wrong when they say the mild winter has caused an increase in slugs and snails, my slugs have had a population explosion! I'm removing twice as many as I've done in previous years to try and protect the new seedlings. I've flattened some old copper pipe to put around the campanula and harebell as they seems to be a gourmet dish in the hopes that they will help with the problem. I'm hoping that Mr Rivvit the frog will start skinny dipping in the pond soon, it's very handy for the new bed!
Instead of beer traps you can fill them with milk (even watered down). Probably a lot cheaper than beer to run...