slugs and snails .....

[burninglikefire]

I am new to gardening and would love some advice re this issue. There seem to be a large number of slugs (and a few snails) in my garden. I am reluctant to use strong chemicals so, after planting wallflowers and pansies, put some organic non-poisonous slug pellets around the plants. Think these essentially form a physical barrier that the slugs don't like crossing. Except that it has rained and the pellets have become mushy and it is apparent that the slugs are enjoying fine dining of wallflowers with a few pansy leaves for dessert! Can anyone suggest a poison free way of keeping them off the plants.

Thank you!

Get some nematodes around March (it’s too cold for them right now).

I feel your pain- I'm running a constant battle with them in my garden! The nematodes mentioned by @Marelle definitely help, to make a difference you have to apply them regularly from spring to autumn. They also seem to really dislike copper bands, which you fit around the base of the plant, something like this: www.greengardener.co.uk/shop/slug-snail-barriers-traps/copper-slug-and-snail-rings-and-bands/.

Its a bit grim, but another thing that will really help is regularly going out in the evening when its been raining with a torch and collecting them up off the lawn and plant beds. In my garden they seem to come out in their hundreds on a wet, dark night! Its very satisfying evicting them!

Finally, do some research into plants that they won't eat- they are out there, I promise! In my garden they never touch the lavender, roses, gaura, campanula, fuchsias or ferns. It means you can focus your attention on protecting the plants that you really love that they do have a taste for!

I have found used coffee granules to work. I tried it for the first time this year on the advice of a friend and was pleasantly surprised! Just sprinkle a decent amount around the base of the plant, I'm not sure if it's the texture or the smell that they don't like.

She gets a bag filled at a local coffee shop, but I drink enough to supply the few plants I've had this year!