WAR ON SLUGS

[Cappuccino]

how?

no blue pellets for dd2 to eat

no picking the things up

anything else considered

You mean in your garden don't you?

Not in your kitchen.

i've got snails. we stomp on them.

scissors. or you can get an arm's length thingy, hang on..

oh nematodes not sure if right time of eyar for them.

that gel you can buy to make a barrier although it is expensive

trimming overhanging grass and leaves, getting rid of places they can hide/lay eggs also seems to work for me

oh we already know what to do with them if in the kitchen

dd1 finds them and puts them in teh dishwasher

you must have read that thread

what about beer traps anyone tried that?

dh says ok as long as it is cheap stuff from corner shop not his San Miguel

I've got a border full of hostas so hate the little buggers. I suppose it's obvious that they don't like anything rough under...erm...foot (?) so putting down mulch/bark/stones stops them literally in their tracks. However, this v pricey. I found last year that spreading coffee grounds around deterred them,get them free from Starbucks, and it's good for your acid loving plants too. Otherwise they hate lavender and rosemary, and nemotodes love marigolds, so these can ensure they don;t thrive. Otherwise beer traps? Put bit of lager on a saucer buried at ground level, they fall in, you collect them then squish them/throw them into next door/give them a new home - whatever seems fair

Well, someone on here last week suggested I try a ring of ralgex around my hosta. I did it at the weekend and so far, its still beautifully munch free! It is in a pot though, so its a bit easier to squeeze the stuff around the rim.

You can get copper tape to put round the top of pots which puts them off - but doesn't sort the border problems. Am going to try slug traps this year.

yes trefusis me too

I am quite happy for most of my garden to take its chances

but the dds' little raised bed is their favourite place.... which is also right next to the kitchen door

um

if you put them in beer can you compost them?

Sharp trowel or scissors (no direct fingering required)

Sacrificial altar of patio or brick

Strong stomach and willpower

Keep the beer for yourself (you may need it to do the above); it's organic; provides large amount of bird food and makes you feel empowered...

We swear by the beer traps, and yes do dispose of slugs in the compost (never considered wether we shouldn't, oops). We do buy the cheapest of cheap stubbies in the hypermarket in France, none of the good stuff.

lol @ primula

rhubarb has this book she read it to me over the phone seriously

27,000 teeth!

Surely not. How can 27,000 teeth fit in a slug's mouth?

If you use beer traps be sure to empty them everyday or they stink.

I also suggest buying hosta seedlings for all your neighbours then let them deal with the problem for you

Try to attract a hedgehog to your garden - they clear them in no time too.

Re hedgehogs. DH is very nervous about the cat catching fleas so will nto allow hedgehog-feeding in the garden.

not sure hedgehog fleas like to live on pussycats .

I'd just buy some frontline for puss and feed the hedgehogs anyway - cheaper than buying loads of slug pellets (but then I tend to do as I please and ignore all others when it comes to pet and garden things )

really? hedgehog fleas wouldn't transfer to cats?

I am known to go out late evening with torch and squash the bastards, birds usuallly pick up remains during the day.
Re hostas in pots, last year I had some in pots and they stood on a large saucer with water in them, not one single slug did get in

not sure tbh - some fleas are species - specific. Damn you! you've made me want to google now - if I don't I'll be up all night wondering

Well what do you know! I was right

apparently "Hedgehogs can carry fleas HOWEVER they only carry their own variety of flea. The hedgehog variety of flea cannot survive on humans or other animals.

You or your pets cannot 'catch' fleas from hedgehogs."

taken from www.hedgehogrescue.org.gg/infoandadvice.php#Don't%20hedgehogs%20have%20fleas?this hedgehog site.