HUGE SLUG AND SNAIL PROBLEM!

[KateHanley]

I have a big problem with slugs and snails in my garden, they're everywhere and I don't know what to do! Besides accidentally stepping on the squishy buggers with bare feet, they're ruining my garden! I was told that the best way to deal with them is to go out at night and in the areas where they are most prominent and squash 'em, I have been using a gloved hand to squish the feckers, how do you guys squish them? What techniques? Or do you use a different method?

Another (barbaric) method is to salt them.

Drowning in a beer trap is also popular.

A longer term solution is to dig a pond. The frogs devour slugs, and to some extent snails.

I send my 4 year old out in the rain to collect snails in his bucket. He thinks this is great, and so do I! NB snails can eat through a plastic bag and climb out of the wheelybin if you bag and bin them.

I used to deal with slugs and snails before the border was planted by putting cardboard sheets and boxes over the soil overnight. In the morning, the creatures were clustered under the cardboard, and when turned over the birds would soon finish them off - no squishing required.
Fewer beasties in this garden, so I do a morning water and protect some plants with crushed eggshells or hair clippings (ask hairdresser) or crumpled tinfoil round edge of pots.
If I had to dispose of them I'd use a couple of dog-loo bags and drop package in appropriate bin.

Think I'll try the cardboard box idea :)

Another version of the cardboard box idea is to use half a grapefruit skin.

Copper tape around plant pots. See green gardener web site. You can also get something you water into soil which kills the eggs.

I too have a terrible problem. There are tons of them here.

Copper tapes around pot plants? Was thinking of doing that too, will try a few things! Dunno if it will be as satisfying as squishing but as long as it works :P

nematodes are a good solution, we had a major slug problem and, whilst we only treated the garden once it really reduced their numbers. We made sure we treated the compost heap too

I was using some WD40 the other day and noticed that, among its many uses, you can spray it on plant pots to stop slugs climbing the sides. Worth a try if you've got pots?

I throw snails onto the path so their shells crack, it's very satisfying!

Do persevere with getting rid of them. My old garden used to be full of them but they went eventually.

I could loan you my 5yr old ds if you like? We nickname him alan titchmarsh as he loves gardening so much and is an avid bug (snail) collector. Snails slither away screaming from our garden at the sound of the bug lab lid being opened. I havnt seen any for aaages. I think he keeps them under his bed. PM me if youre interested.

Another vote for nematodes. I treated the garden 4 times over the year, huge improvement from last year.

Organic gardening and bells on any local cat will encourage birds who eat the things.We don't have a slug problem cos the beady eyed birds get em. As does the hedgehog.