Slug Bastards

[Panda368]

They are bloody everywhere. I planted some decoy marigolds to distract but they have been munched before even flowering.
my courgettes are down to stumps. I’ve tried beer traps, eggshells, copper tape and they are still munching through the seedlings.

are there any commercial slug killers that work for veg patches? Is there anything else I can try?

Oh no, too good to be true! And I thought I had found the perfect excuse to get some cute ducks 😁

Apologies for semi abandoning this thread. I ordered some nematodes and put on last week so I’m hoping a few things start recovering although Im not super hopeful.

I was using slug traps with beer which Didn’t work so well. Wrapped copper tape around the edges of the raised bed.

My courgette plants have been nibbled to stubs twice already (I’ve got one backup seedling left so will put it in today and hope for the best.
runner beans are climbing finally but very sparse on leaves
chard is struggling
beetroot is starting to pick up
marigolds are just totally fucked.
mum mildly hopeful for my sweetcorn 🤦‍♀️

sigh. I’m glad this is an experimental exercise and I’m not having to rely on this for sustenance.

I saw a post on insta yesterday where the person was having great success with those thin green scourer pads. They cut a slit into it and then used it around the base of the plant and the slugs won't travel over it. I will try and find he post again to screenshot.

Aww slugs I agree seem to be so many this year, DH is a very keen gardener, he goes on slug patrol every morning!

Found it!

Boil garlic cloves in a saucepan for a few minutes let it cool then blend with a hand held blender, strain & decant into a sprayer/ watering can. Spray leaves & soil. I’ve used this method for years it works.

I think we follow the same person @GigantosaurusRex

I used some nematodes on Friday and spotted birds eating slugs yesterday morning so hopefully I won't need scouters. I ordered 3 doses to be delivered every 6 weeks but if that doesn't work I'll be off to Sainsburys. My poor zinnias I grew from seeds were eaten to stumps and I only have one left

Well it looks like I might be nipping to Tesco for some scouters later today before planting my last backup courgette.

in other news what I thought was a sweetcorn seems to have sprouted a pea…🤦‍♀️

im very confused and clearly need to find a better seedling labelling method than memory and hope..

To the PP who “reallocates” slugs and snails- they have a homing instinct, so will slowly and determinedly return, at one metre per hour!

I spray my plants with a garlic solution. Boil 4 garlic bulbs for 10 mins in 4 pints of water, cool, sieve, and add 1 part to 4 parts water ( can vary quantities and timing) and either pour the neat solution sparingly round plants or spray diluted version onto plants. I haven’t seen a slug yet !!

in-fact this works for keeping rabbits, moles and any other animals at bay.

I've had to stand pots on my patio table and wooden bench at night as my dahlias were being eaten and my lovely vibrant orange million bells in them were massacred. The pots were all on feet too!

I have loads of snails and slugs every year. I usually lob the larger snails over the back fence into the access area or onto the shed roof for the birds. The very small snails, I tread on. I just can't do that to the larger ones, so over the fence they go.

Every year, I vow to have less containers of plants to avoid the expense and rage at losing so many to these slime bags and every year I forget and end up with even more.

I'm my own worst enemy ...😁

Anything in a pot - smear a thick ring of Vaseline round the rim. They can’t cross it.

or, plant susceptibles like hostas in a galvanised bucket with drain holes drilled. They won’t climb up.

my hostas are doing really well this year I’m sure it’s down to these things. I have loads of slugs otherwise - shady wooded garden!