I'm trying copper tape around the pots for the first time. As a belt and braces approach I'm still using slug pellets too. If the beggars (polite alternative) get through that then maybe they deserve a munch.
The 'bridge' issue is certainly something to be aware of. I couldn't work out how the slugs and snails were getting past the defences last year until I realised that the leaves of a couple of the big hostas were touching the fence and wall.
I think the ones here normally swing in on bungees jsut to add insult to injury....
They've been much less noticeable here this year as it's been drier. They usually multiply rapidly in the cold wet ground. Lots of plants are looking much better than usual - I'm certainly not complaining - haven't had to go out and collect them!
It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
New garden for me and I have just planted out a whole new bed with hostas I brought from my old one. The problem here is snails which are easy enough to pick off and crush or throw in the road but I have sprinkled slug pellets very sparingly and it is working so far.
Too big an area for copper tape, no meal worms in shops here and, in any case, the local birds are only just learning that we do bird feeders and I have yet to spot a blackbird or thrush that may eat snails tho I've heard some singing in the hedgerows. My last garden was much wetter so I used pellets from early on to catch the blighters as they emerged form hibernation or hatched from eggs and before they started munching on my hostas and clems and daffs and hemerocallis. Worked for me.
Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
"The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
I tried everything to get rid of the slugs and snails in my garden. My favourite was the bucket of salt water and nightly (even better in the rain) walks round the garden.
that summer I noticed I had hardly any birds in the garden, even after trying everything to attract them. I had a few frogs in the garden when I first moved in (even though I live in the city suburbs). I found two dead frogs that year
i got so sick of the slime and smell of dead snails that I simply gave up and let nature take its course.
My garden is now buzzing with birds, bees, butterflies and the frogs are back! My hostas are no more nibbled then they were previously. I decided my garden is for nature and who am I to mess with the ecology of it? (Although i am tested when the lily beetles attack my beautiful llilies!)
If you really hate the nibble, try ferns instead of hostas! Sit back and enjoy
Posts
Now that's impressive (not jealous of the space at all ?)!
I can send you some Hosta
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
I'm trying copper tape around the pots for the first time. As a belt and braces approach I'm still using slug pellets too. If the beggars (polite alternative) get through that then maybe they deserve a munch.
I used copper tape around pots last year ... it seems to work quite well as long as there are no 'bridges' of leaves from other plants etc.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
Try the lambs wool pellets as a mulch or grit. I swear by it. Could also try saving your hair shavings from the barbers
The 'bridge' issue is certainly something to be aware of. I couldn't work out how the slugs and snails were getting past the defences last year until I realised that the leaves of a couple of the big hostas were touching the fence and wall.
I think the ones here normally swing in on bungees jsut to add insult to injury....
They've been much less noticeable here this year as it's been drier. They usually multiply rapidly in the cold wet ground. Lots of plants are looking much better than usual - I'm certainly not complaining - haven't had to go out and collect them!
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
New garden for me and I have just planted out a whole new bed with hostas I brought from my old one. The problem here is snails which are easy enough to pick off and crush or throw in the road but I have sprinkled slug pellets very sparingly and it is working so far.
Too big an area for copper tape, no meal worms in shops here and, in any case, the local birds are only just learning that we do bird feeders and I have yet to spot a blackbird or thrush that may eat snails tho I've heard some singing in the hedgerows. My last garden was much wetter so I used pellets from early on to catch the blighters as they emerged form hibernation or hatched from eggs and before they started munching on my hostas and clems and daffs and hemerocallis. Worked for me.
Earlier in this thread someone suggested spraying the outside of the pots with WD40. Has anyone tried this?
I tried everything to get rid of the slugs and snails in my garden. My favourite was the bucket of salt water and nightly (even better in the rain) walks round the garden.
that summer I noticed I had hardly any birds in the garden, even after trying everything to attract them. I had a few frogs in the garden when I first moved in (even though I live in the city suburbs). I found two dead frogs that year
i got so sick of the slime and smell of dead snails that I simply gave up and let nature take its course.
My garden is now buzzing with birds, bees, butterflies and the frogs are back! My hostas are no more nibbled then they were previously. I decided my garden is for nature and who am I to mess with the ecology of it? (Although i am tested when the lily beetles attack my beautiful llilies!)
If you really hate the nibble, try ferns instead of hostas! Sit back and enjoy