New to this interesting forum - it was this thread that made me join - my frustration is with Hosta damage...
It was mentioned as a possible solution the use of garlic water. Anyone tried that? If so, does it work (and does the garden begin to smell a bit 'ripe')?
Funnily enough they were relatively slug and snail free when I got them from the Canterbury Cathedral gardens (I used to work there) and they were obviously using holy water on them [cough]....
I've been using the pellets, but I think the little blighters live and breed in and on the plant itself and don't wander off into the local soil much, where the pellets lie. That's why I'm thinking more along the lines of either a wash or something systemic. Surprised there's no systemic way of controlling slugs/snails. Or is there??
I have 135 varieties of Hosta and between 1,000 and 1,500 plants.
I use pellets only if one group ( eg, near a large bush where snails might congregate ) is under attack. I don't think I've even used more than a handful all season.
Maybe I just have so many that the damage is spread thinly.
Birds , frogs and hedgehogs seem to keep on top of them.
Posts
Hi all.
New to this interesting forum - it was this thread that made me join - my frustration is with Hosta damage...
It was mentioned as a possible solution the use of garlic water. Anyone tried that? If so, does it work (and does the garden begin to smell a bit 'ripe')?
Thanks all
Ian (Kent)
.
Ian, you might as well use holy water for all the use garlic water and other home made solutions are against slugs and other pests like white fly.
No doubt others will reply that these and other snake oil products were the answer to their prayers.
The little blue pellets give some respite, if used sparingly and regularly!
Cheers
Thanks Braidman.
Funnily enough they were relatively slug and snail free when I got them from the Canterbury Cathedral gardens (I used to work there) and they were obviously using holy water on them [cough]....
I've been using the pellets, but I think the little blighters live and breed in and on the plant itself and don't wander off into the local soil much, where the pellets lie. That's why I'm thinking more along the lines of either a wash or something systemic. Surprised there's no systemic way of controlling slugs/snails. Or is there??
cheers,
ian
I have 135 varieties of Hosta and between 1,000 and 1,500 plants.
I use pellets only if one group ( eg, near a large bush where snails might congregate ) is under attack. I don't think I've even used more than a handful all season.
Maybe I just have so many that the damage is spread thinly.
Birds , frogs and hedgehogs seem to keep on top of them.
.
I found that the slugs and snails left the hostas alone earlier in the season, then they started with a vengeance.
Usually they go for one individual and leave the others alone, not this year, they all got hit>
I have 4 plants of Designer Genes in pots, they were the worst hit!
Aw well, there's always next year!