I am a new gardener and getting seriously disheartened. All my spinach plants, lovingly grown from seed are gone entirely, the beans are becoming lacework and even half my sweetcorn plants are dying. Don't want to endanger the wild birds that come to feed by using pellets. I have found some clear gloop that you pipe round pot edges, that seems to work pretty well, but nothing for soil. The cat-litter type stuff doesn't seem to be doing the trick. Someone suggested hair clippings, but they just blow away!

Help!!

why not try beer traps or crushed eggshells?

We had huge slug problems, and tried beer traps and picking them up in the evenings and all manner of things. Now I am not so kind! Bought 'Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer - for organic use' and scattered the pellets around - all the slugs have gone, and lacey-beans have recovered! Got them from B&Q. It says on the back they are friendly to cats and birds and hedgehogs. So my concience is clear and my veg garden is back on form!

I've used these (http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/pages/product/product.asp?prod=GPC-197&ctgry=Pest%20Control_Slug%20traps%20and%20barriers&cookie%5Ftest=1) with some success. They didn't stop slug damage completely, but they certainly decreased it.

You can also use the pellets in combination with going round the garden every night with a torch and a lidded bucket picking the slimy little buggers off the plants by hand. As a slugaphobe, it's not a method that I've tried, but if you're persistent you might reduce the population. Oh, and apparently snails are like homing pigeons. Not sure if slugs get similarly homesick, but it might be wise to resist the temptation to chuck them over the garden fence as a means of disposal if you don't want them to make a return visit.

ETA: The pellets are the ones mentioned in the post by lilqueenie above.

why not try beer traps or crushed eggshells?

I've tried beer. It was really successful at my last house where we were unbelievable overrun. Doesn't seem to be doing much here. Do you know if they prefer lager or beer? Do eggshells work then? how much do you need?

We had huge slug problems, and tried beer traps and picking them up in the evenings and all manner of things. Now I am not so kind! Bought 'Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer - for organic use' and scattered the pellets around - all the slugs have gone, and lacey-beans have recovered! Got them from B&Q. It says on the back they are friendly to cats and birds and hedgehogs. So my concience is clear and my veg garden is back on form!

If it truly doesn't effect wildlife then that's the answer. I found one that said it was ok for pets, which I assumed meant the actual pellets, but I was still worried about creatures eating the dead slugs. But yours sounds ok - I'll get some. Thanks!

I've used these (http://www.harrodhorticultural.com/HarrodSite/pages/product/product.asp?prod=GPC-197&ctgry=Pest%20Control_Slug%20traps%20and%20barriers&cookie%5Ftest=1) with some success. They didn't stop slug damage completely, but they certainly decreased it.

You can also use the pellets in combination with going round the garden every night with a torch and a lidded bucket picking the slimy little buggers off the plants by hand. As a slugaphobe, it's not a method that I've tried, but if you're persistent you might reduce the population. Oh, and apparently snails are like homing pigeons. Not sure if slugs get similarly homesick, but it might be wise to resist the temptation to chuck them over the garden fence as a means of disposal if you don't want them to make a return visit.

ETA: The pellets are the ones mentioned in the post by lilqueenie above.

I've been carrying them across the road to a small bit of wasteland. Wonder if that's far enough...?

...Do eggshells work then? how much do you need?
I haven't tried eggshells, but the principle is the same as surrounding the plants with sharp grit: the slugs apparently don't like to crawl over it. Probably cheaper to go with sharp grit in the long term if you want to use a physical barrier method, unless you eat a hell of a lot of eggs of course.

I've been carrying them across the road to a small bit of wasteland. Wonder if that's far enough...?
I'd flush them down the toilet or add salt to the bucket :hihi: .

I'd flush them down the toilet or add salt to the bucket :hihi: .

That's probably the best way, but I'm a bit of a softy. I'll probably harden up - my friend so insensed that she cuts them in half with scissors!

here is a few ideas , i use the bottom one on the 1st link , u can get it from B&Q for £5

http://www.gardeningmags.co.uk/nav?page=gardeningmags.contentspage&view_resource=6752602



http://www.greengardener.co.uk/slugextra.htm

I think I heard of using copper wires - they seem to get some sort of shock. I wouldn't like to tell you what I do with mine - it's a family site, and I may get some flack.

So, I've been reading up about slugs since posting that advice! Says in various places that the active ingredient in 'Growing Success Advanced Slug Killer' is Feric Phosphate which is considered 'relativly' harmless to animals, safer than metaldehyde (the ingredient in most slug pellets), but also slightly less effective.

Well, I've found it very successful so far, and I hope it is harmless to other animals, but I suppose anything that kills one animal might pose a risk to other animals.

Beer traps have been very successful too (but a bit grim in the mornings) - although I can't beer cheap enough for the slugs!

It says on the back of these slug pellets that the slugs go away somewhere to die - altogether now.... ahhh....!

I have a hatred of slugs and snails that verges on the insane and when Im not out in my garden actively hunting them down to put into my sunny concentration camps I use the safe slug pellets.

A friend of mine (a champion tomato grower) lines up his walking stick against a slug, and then whirls it round to slice in in two! Quite nasty, very effective and extremly satisfying!

I collect mine and then throw them in the bin, at least they get to live in the lap of luxury for a while on all my weeds before going off with the bin men.

Obviously it doesn't completely work, I still have some problems but not a massive amount.

However... I have never been able to save the coneflower from them!!!! One year I will, one year... My plan is next year plant it in a new pot and put copper tape round and maybe I'll manage to actually have one in the garden then I haven't had to buy in.

I am a new gardener and getting seriously disheartened... I have found some clear gloop that you pipe round pot edges, that seems to work pretty well, but nothing for soil.

Oooo it's frustrating isnt it?!-picking them all off in the morning, and returning home from work only to find a whole new slime (?flock? herd?) of slugs destroying the plants yet again! I found what is probably the same gloopy product only last week, and now have little rings of gloop all around the tops of my pots and around my favourite plants out in the flowerbeds - and it seems to be working! I've not even seen a slug since I put the stuff out last week - yay! It's supposed to be non-poisonous and non-threatening to wildlife, so here's hoping it continues to work :)

I tried a beer trap thing this morning, I have some bottles of beer left over from Christmas and I buried it in a flower bed and poured the ale in.

I cant wait to see what it catches.

A friend of mine lines up his walking stick against a slug, and then whirls it round to slice in in two! Quite nasty, very effective and extremly satisfying!

I have a similar way involving the edge of my trowel/hoe :gag:

I seem to think that some people scoop out grapefruits and leave them on the ground - I think the premise is that slugs crawl under them to 'hide' and then you can collect them in the morning and dispose of them. Or had I just had way too much wine that night :suspect:

Well.

I didnt catch any slugs with my trap but the cats come in legless.

I am going to try watering my hostas with garlic water to keep the slugs at bay. It was a tip from the Chelsea Flower show .Two bulbs of garlic crushed in 2pints of water then boiled for 3 mins then strain and bottle. Add 1 tbsp to a watering can water on and allow to dry.
THIS WAS THE ADVICE OF A RECENT THREAD. Would I believe B&Q regarding anything kind to wildlife. Nah, don't think so!

If, like me, you don't want to use chemicals then the only thing is to try all the methods, the beer, the egg shells, the collecting at night with a torch. I've also had some success with bunches of comfrey laid on the ground near vulnerable plants. The slugs eat the comfrey instead and then shelter beneath it during the day. All you have to do is look underneath and remove them. After a few days you can compost the comfrey and put a fresh bunch out. Another method is to encircle a plant with bran, the slugs gorge on the bran until they pop, presumably it swells in their stomachs. Also you can make 'slug hotels' from hollowed out grapefruit halves - just cut them a little door - then remove the slugs the next day. This is a good way to make use of your kids' pumpkin lantern too after they've finished with it

Sorry, I can't kill anything! Bran has that effect on me too. Not nice. The best thing I've done is not plant any more plants that the slugs eat! Hostas are in baskets and my froggies seem to do the rest. Up to now pretty much slug free garden. The comfrey solution sounds good!

We have an allotment and a similar sized garden. There are very few ponds around the allotment site (as far as I know) but there are at least three large ponds in neighbouring gardens. Our garden is crawling with frogs as a result of the ponds and there are relatively few slugs (I can grow delphiniums/hollyhocks/lupins etc). The allotment is riddled with slugs and we are constantly slicing them in half and laying planks to trap them etc.

A very effective way to tackle slugs would therefore seem to be to encourage predators (frogs/blackbirds/thrushes etc). Frogs are also quite cute though getting down the garden path when its raining is a bit difficult (frog central).

Forgot to ask about the 'Advanced Slug Killer' pellets. I've also been using them because as far as I know they are non-toxic unless ingested in vast quantities and break down to harmless elements in the soil.

One question I have is whether they require contact or whether they need to be eaten. I assumed they worked liked the metaldehyde ones (slugs eat them and die - as do frogs, birds, hedgehogs, cats etc) but a friend has said slugs must slime over them to be effective. Anyone know the answer?

That's probably the best way, but I'm a bit of a softy. I'll probably harden up - my friend so insensed that she cuts them in half with scissors!

I do that too.:D Pellets work, but if you dont want to use chemicals i think the way above is best. Another ive tried is stick a nail througfh it.:D:gag:

It says on the back that the slugs eat them and then crawl away to die. I've only put a light scatter of them on the soil and it has been really effective

We have more of an issue with snails. I keep picking them up and throwing them to the compost heap at the bottom of the garden but they keep coming back.

I have tried the beer trick

sink half full of beer into the ground up to neck level so its easy for them to fall in.... What a way to go!

if all else fails recover cool can of beer for not so nice person at BBQ :D

I've got frogs on my lottie (wildlife pond) and definitely have less problems with slugs & snails. I'm also trying to boost my soil with green manures & home made compost, which makes plants stronger (in theory) and therefore more able to resist attacks of all sorts of pests. I'm also determindly eradicating the lottie of weeds, which give nasties places to hide and shelter.

get some shoddy chucked on your veg...

Have just been to Gardeners World Live and bought some nematodes which are a biological control. They last for up to six week then have to be reapplied .It is not a cheap option but I am desparate. I have tried organic slugpellets ,garlic water,Slugstoppa granules,Slug defence gel and they still got my carrots, beetroot ,swede and sunflower seedlings. Tho oddly my brassicas are doing o.k. Once the slugs have snuffed it I am going to put flattened copper pipe round my raised beds to stop outsiders coming in.That was a tip from Monty Don.

visiting an old guy's garden i noticed he had half lemons scattered around, he told me slugs keep well away from them, i have a massive slug and snail problem in my garden so i thought i would give it a go, i placed the lemons close to the plants that are constantly overrun by the little blighters, a week later the plants are thriving even my camamile, not sure when you are supposed to change the lemons, weekly/fortnightly i guess. worth a try

Most citrus will work - no idea, my parents use half grapefruits. Just check every morning for slugs / snails and remove them in whatever way you choose...