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Slug resistant bedding plants
Guernsey Donkey2
Posts: 6,713
in Plants
Yet again I have lost a few bedding plants to the slugs in the past week. Gazinia (I thought were slug proof), begonias seems to be resilient to slugs - French Marigolds have been devoured so now I am planting them in large pots away from the flower bed. Any recommendations please?
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Yes, I have realized that now - too late though Verdun. I planted some gazinias last year and many of them survived over the winter too - but the new (too small) gazinias that I planted out last week have been severely eaten by the slugs. I did put gravel around them after I realized that they had been partially eaten during the wet night and that may help a bit - I am hoping that even though most of the main leaves have been eaten that the plants may revive if we get a warm, drier spell of weather soon. In the meantime I will pot the rest of my small seedlings into larger pots to grow on for another couple of weeks - I am sure that I planted out seedlings far earlier last year.
begonias, fuchsias, hardy geraniums. Plant scented herbs in between (if you have space) lavender & rosemary etc.
http://www.wyevalegardencentres.co.uk/gardening-advice/gardeners-questions/-slug-resistant-bedding-plants/DGB
Begonias, annual geraniums, lobelia are surprisingly resiliant the low growing ground cover type, I put those everywhere now to fill gaps and soften the edges of borders, Antirrhinums do very well. Fushias although I don't like them, foxgloves are usually ok as long as the plant isn't too tiny.
That's about it. I've gradually done away with annuals and replaced with slug proof perennials.
You might get away with others as long as you plant them when they are quite big. Slugs love small newly planted annuals.
Thanks for your suggestions Lou - I too am beginning to realize that spending a bit more on perennials & also growing some myself is far better value than faffing around with seeds and bedding plants - although interesting to watch them grow to then find in one wet rainy night that an army of slugs have demolished them is heartbreaking.
I've also recently read sweet alyssum will be bypassed by the little buggers.
Last edited: 13 May 2016 22:01:53