The B*****S they have been truly dreadful this year. I have just given up with my Lobelia Russian Princess which must be their favourite food. They are even chewing my Alstromeria and I have never seen happen before.
I had some RP Lobelia in a flower bed surrounded by wool pellets and they still muched through them.
It looked like a photo of the execution of the Romanovs
.I am going to just try growing them in big pots which are bit easier to protect and some are already doing better
Joan, I'm new to gardening as well, but one of the old-timers on our allotment site says that this year is the worst he can remember as far as pests go. In his words, "everything is eating everything". So there's a chance that next year will be closer to normal, which means better.
So encouraging to know we're not alone. Thank you for your assurances. After giving myself a good talking to following my moans, I planted Creeping Phlox in defiance, and also played safe, hopefully, with a few Dianthus. Tomorrow, hopefully planting a pretty Fuchsia shrub, a Lonicera Chic and Choc, a Salvia 'Hot Lips' and a tiny fragrant ev
I lost my lupins very early on. Considering I have only conquered about 3 metres of flower bed so far - that was thoroughly depressing. I planted some dahlias to cover the gaps, beautiful big ones with lovely coloured flowers on them. I walked outside THE FOLLOWING MORNING and the b*ggers had only left a few green stems behind
I lost an echinacea in this way - it'd have recovered the first time, but just as it started to regrow they ate it again. I'll know better next time. The only thing I find that's helped (apart from ferric phosphate slug pellets) is copper coated fabric - the slimy b*****s had been eating even the leaves of my new strawberry plants, but the moment I put the fabric around them (around the plants, that is), that stopped.
I went to the allotment this evening, it's very warm and humid and the slugs were out in full force again. I hope the plants are now big enough.
I was originally sceptical that nematodes would work .... but I'm now a total convert.
I've got a large garden so need to buy the 100 sq m pack. You apply every 6 weeks or so ...not cheap but so worth it.
I still do an occasional evening "slug hunt" ... if it's warm and damp ... ideal slug weather. In the past I would have got 400+ .... the total now caught is usually <10. The hostas have never looked so nice ... and the erythroniums were lovely this year too. I might even try growing delphiniums again.
I figure that the cost is equivalent to buying a couple of plants ... so put like that it doesn't seem too bad if it saves things I've already got.
I also get to spend more time gardening rather than constantly slug hunting.
Gardener and beekeeper in beautiful Scottish Borders
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Not that I'm a particularly experienced gardener, but do like to dabble every year with different plants, I've noticed this year that there seems to be an abundance of every type of bugs etc. This is the first year I have had .. lily beetle, infestation of aphids on my lupins and delphiniums (the little left over from the slugs), blackfly, whitefly and ants. And now I notice in my brick built bed that an army of red ants have arrived too.... while I may not have the colour I normally have in the garden, I seem to be the saviour of the lesser species!!
Posts
The B*****S they have been truly dreadful this year. I have just given up with my Lobelia Russian Princess which must be their favourite food. They are even chewing my Alstromeria and I have never seen happen before.
I had some RP Lobelia in a flower bed surrounded by wool pellets and they still muched through them.
It looked like a photo of the execution of the Romanovs
.I am going to just try growing them in big pots which are bit easier to protect and some are already doing better
.
'You must have some bread with it me duck!'
Joan, I'm new to gardening as well, but one of the old-timers on our allotment site says that this year is the worst he can remember as far as pests go. In his words, "everything is eating everything". So there's a chance that next year will be closer to normal, which means better.
Evergreen..
Joanwattam: I should have said earlier "Hello, and a very warm welcome to the forum"
(I've only just noticed that you're new) oops
silly me.
There are lots of lovely folk on here only too willing to share advice, photos and even funny stories about their gardens.
Hope you enjoy having a look around at what we've all been up to, and look forward to hearing more about your garden.
Kitty
They had my alstromeria too. Little B*****s
I lost my lupins very early on. Considering I have only conquered about 3 metres of flower bed so far - that was thoroughly depressing. I planted some dahlias to cover the gaps, beautiful big ones with lovely coloured flowers on them. I walked outside THE FOLLOWING MORNING and the b*ggers had only left a few green stems behind
I lost an echinacea in this way - it'd have recovered the first time, but just as it started to regrow they ate it again. I'll know better next time. The only thing I find that's helped (apart from ferric phosphate slug pellets) is copper coated fabric - the slimy b*****s had been eating even the leaves of my new strawberry plants, but the moment I put the fabric around them (around the plants, that is), that stopped.
I went to the allotment this evening, it's very warm and humid and the slugs were out in full force again. I hope the plants are now big enough.
Don't get mad .... get even!
I was originally sceptical that nematodes would work .... but I'm now a total convert.
I've got a large garden so need to buy the 100 sq m pack. You apply every 6 weeks or so ...not cheap but so worth it.
I still do an occasional evening "slug hunt" ... if it's warm and damp ... ideal slug weather. In the past I would have got 400+ .... the total now caught is usually <10. The hostas have never looked so nice ... and the erythroniums were lovely this year too. I might even try growing delphiniums again.
I figure that the cost is equivalent to buying a couple of plants ... so put like that it doesn't seem too bad if it saves things I've already got.
I also get to spend more time gardening rather than constantly slug hunting.
A single bee creates just one twelfth of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime
Not that I'm a particularly experienced gardener, but do like to dabble every year with different plants, I've noticed this year that there seems to be an abundance of every type of bugs etc. This is the first year I have had .. lily beetle, infestation of aphids on my lupins and delphiniums (the little left over from the slugs), blackfly, whitefly and ants. And now I notice in my brick built bed that an army of red ants have arrived too.... while I may not have the colour I normally have in the garden, I seem to be the saviour of the lesser species!!