Organic Slug Pellets

[anascrecca]

Does anyone have any experience of organic or less harmful slug pellets that actually work? I've tried several over the years that haven't worked well. They are for a community project where the participants will be disheartened if all the plants get eaten (which I fear they will with all this warm wet weather we are having !)

These (or a similar product) were used by Frances on GW last year in her allotment with some success I believe:

Vitax 3.5L Slug Gone Natural Wool Barrier Pellets https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B00AFSKZBQ/ref=cmswwrcppapiii_KT.8CbGDWJTTW

Posted too soon !
They don’t work instantly but good to plan in .
You can get animal / child friendly slug treatments - looks like cat sick when wet and is ok .

Should say Nematodes . Phone playing up !

Organic slug pellets work differently to non-organic.

They all contain a slug attractant though. So that never helps.

Personally I use nematodes. The only thing that has reduced my slug population across the board.

And putting out plants when they are older and bigger and less prone to munching.

Slugzilla is great for keeping plants slug free

Mm maybe we should see if there is room in the budget for nematodes...

I've tried most thingsbut I've not yet found any organic method that really works...the wool pellets don't work, nematodes haven't worked for me either. Currently using beer traps, and regular slug hunts after dark...
I would love to find an easier method though!

The cheapest environmentally friendly solution is one you can make yourself at home. I can vouch that it works- I use it on my hostas, and it keeps the slugs off completely.
Simply peel and squash three cloves of garlic, and simmer them for ten minutes in a couple of pints of water. Allow the water to cool, then strain it into an old coke or lemonade bottle to store it.
Pour a little into your watering can, top up with plain water and spray over the plants you want to protect.
You need to repeat it after rainy days have washed the garlic smell off the leaves.
My hostas used to be stripped completely to bare stems, but now they flourish! And it’s safe for birds, hedgehogs and my cat, unlike commercial slug pellets.

You can make your own nematodes. It involves catching slugs in a container. Search for i and you will find it.

I doubt that a beer trap is organic. Alcohol is pretty toxic.

I get my nematodes from Amazon

You could use organic wine in your beer trap.
It is toxic but the slugs die happy.

lol, and organic wine is less toxic because .......

Please please don’t use slug pellets. They are so bad for everything that eats slugs

I’ve had great success with the wool pellets. But you need to keep adding and covering the area as the plants grow and make sure you cover any other plants that leaves touch or the slugs climb from one plant to another.

I doubt that a beer trap is organic. Alcohol is pretty toxic

Alcohol is a natural product of yeast eating sugar.

Please please don’t use slug pellets. They are so bad for everything that eats slugs

The organic ones are fine for other creatures.

No they aren’t they just kill them slower.

No they aren’t they just kill them slower.

No they don't.

I'm sure you think you know it all, but as a friend of the ex head gardener at garden organic - who tested these before they went to market, I know full well they are fine - otherwise they wouldn't have got to market in the first place.

The ferrous phosphate pellets are no longer sold as organic. The jury is out on whether they are harmful to other creatures but they are certainly not as toxic as metaldehyde, which is horrid stuff.
The wool pellets didn’t work for me, just made my garden smell of sheep. They’re ridiculously expensive as well. The only thing that works for me is growing things the slugs don’t like in the beds and doing regular slug hunts (and then squishing them) under my pots.

pigeon I beg to differ. Sluggo pellets are widely available and the packaging states they are approved for organic use

Interesting, a number of other brands have removed the “organic” label from their packaging for ferrous phosphate.

Alcohol is a natural product of yeast eating sugar.

Just because it's 'natural' doesn't mean it's good or organic!

Did my post not come through ? Slugzilla is the best new product that I've come across . It's seaweed based - google it !

pigeon I have the wool pellets, they're working for pots. I haven't tested them in the ground yet.

My garden does stink of sheep though .

pigeon yes it is interesting. I wonder if they have to submit their product for testing before they can claim organic status

I use the ferric phosphate pellets and find them effective