Not sure MayLane. The ones I caught were small (apart from 2 whoppers) but they can still cause damage. If you can pop out in the dark you might see them on the plant. If not then I'm sure others on here will give you advice
It takes me less than an hour to pick up 300. I'm told I have Spanish slugs - well known for being numerous and hungry. It is quite common to find a single plant such as a young Michaelmas daisy with 12 - 18 slugs on it. You don't need much time to reach high numbers. On damp evenings the grass is covered with them to the extent that it is difficult to put my size 7 boot down without stepping on at least one!
I too find slugs can be a nightmare - they actually spoil my gardening as I find raising young plants becomes a battle of wills! The night-collecting is not really sustainable so I am going to try Nematodes this year.
One would think that 'we' could find a solution... but suppose we haven't eradicated the common cold either! It's a shame cats don't hunt them as they could use my garden as a buffet instead of a bathroom!
I only use plants that slugs hate. I don't want to battle them as well as battling each day with my 2 boys, who are always wanting to battle each other.
Unfortunately it means my choices are very limited. I don't have many of the gorgeous plants that others have in their gardens.
I just don't understand why their population is still so big in my garden when there isn't much to eat.
I'm a bit worried about slugs! In a new build house and had a problem with slugs since we've redesigned the garden.
Not sure if it's a specific type of slug, but they destroyed flowers on my lupins, winter violas and asters. My hosta have been fine but I'm a bit worried about how much damage I see this year. Plan to start early with nematodes, but will also look to improve the plant diversity to attract wildlife.
My garden is fully enclosed so no benefit of toads and frogs. my only regular bird visitors are magpies!
Fortunately, there are plants they don't eat, but it's true you have to adapt. Many traditional English garden plants like lupins and delphiniums really struggle but geum and peonies do well for me. I have just had to experiment and take it as it comes. When the problem first got going, I got very upset and angry and frustrated but I just had to come to terms with it. I love gardening and I love my garden, I'm not giving up because of some b****y slugs!
I'm hoping as winter wasn't as mild as last years, we won't have the complete boom in population! Turn over the soil in early Spring to expose any eggs for the birds. Failing that invest in some ducks, chickens or a pond for the frogs/toads
Perhaps chickens on an unestablished garden but nothing is more destructive and irritating for me than slugs and snails. Disagree with ducks, they are the key to this successful gardener's untouched hostas - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNNB0hHnMVY
I like ducks. We had one move in with us from the field next to us where she was being bullied by the other, bigger ducks. She ate woodlice by the hundreds and would follow us around the garden to have us turn over stones or open up the compost heap. She didn't eat slugs, though. When her wings grew back she flew away with a drake of her own sort. It was very romantic.
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So would it be slugs eating a honeysuckle that for some reason hasn't died back?
Not sure MayLane. The ones I caught were small (apart from 2 whoppers) but they can still cause damage. If you can pop out in the dark you might see them on the plant. If not then I'm sure others on here will give you advice
It takes me less than an hour to pick up 300. I'm told I have Spanish slugs - well known for being numerous and hungry. It is quite common to find a single plant such as a young Michaelmas daisy with 12 - 18 slugs on it. You don't need much time to reach high numbers. On damp evenings the grass is covered with them to the extent that it is difficult to put my size 7 boot down without stepping on at least one!
300!!!!!
I too find slugs can be a nightmare - they actually spoil my gardening as I find raising young plants becomes a battle of wills! The night-collecting is not really sustainable so I am going to try Nematodes this year.
One would think that 'we' could find a solution... but suppose we haven't eradicated the common cold either! It's a shame cats don't hunt them as they could use my garden as a buffet instead of a bathroom!
I only use plants that slugs hate. I don't want to battle them as well as battling each day with my 2 boys, who are always wanting to battle each other.
Unfortunately it means my choices are very limited. I don't have many of the gorgeous plants that others have in their gardens.
I just don't understand why their population is still so big in my garden when there isn't much to eat.
I'm a bit worried about slugs! In a new build house and had a problem with slugs since we've redesigned the garden.
Not sure if it's a specific type of slug, but they destroyed flowers on my lupins, winter violas and asters. My hosta have been fine but I'm a bit worried about how much damage I see this year. Plan to start early with nematodes, but will also look to improve the plant diversity to attract wildlife.
My garden is fully enclosed so no benefit of toads and frogs. my only regular bird visitors are magpies!
Fortunately, there are plants they don't eat, but it's true you have to adapt. Many traditional English garden plants like lupins and delphiniums really struggle but geum and peonies do well for me. I have just had to experiment and take it as it comes. When the problem first got going, I got very upset and angry and frustrated but I just had to come to terms with it. I love gardening and I love my garden, I'm not giving up because of some b****y slugs!
One of my teasel rosettes has been completely eaten. Why would you eat a teasel? They are bumpy and a prickly. I don't understand the slug mind.
Perhaps chickens on an unestablished garden but nothing is more destructive and irritating for me than slugs and snails. Disagree with ducks, they are the key to this successful gardener's untouched hostas -
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XNNB0hHnMVY
Last edited: 02 February 2017 09:28:13
I like ducks. We had one move in with us from the field next to us where she was being bullied by the other, bigger ducks. She ate woodlice by the hundreds and would follow us around the garden to have us turn over stones or open up the compost heap. She didn't eat slugs, though. When her wings grew back she flew away with a drake of her own sort. It was very romantic.