RTL here in Broxburn. This was done on the 11th. May but just getting round to posting it--I hope. Here's my tips for slugs.
Put small pieces of wood, slate or anything which will provide cover for them near the item you want to protect and water underneath if ground is dry. Along comes the slugs and after they've had a munch, instead of returning home they hide under your "trap". You go round in the morning with a suitable instrument, turn the wood over and dispatch them. They won't be back. I've got wood near my caulies---got 5 yesterday and another 2 today.
Put small pieces of wood, slate or anything which will provide cover for them near the item you want to protect and water underneath if ground is dry. Along comes the slugs and after they've had a munch, instead of returning home they hide under your "trap". You go round in the morning with a suitable instrument, turn the wood over and dispatch them. They won't be back. I've got wood near my caulies---got 5 yesterday and another 2 today.
I usually put coarse sand round the plants I want to protect. Only thing is,that after a few rain showers, the roughness has gone and you might have to renew it. Usually by that time the plant has had time to establish itself and any damage the slugs/snails do isn't usually terminal.
Have put some sunflowers in today with a slight modification. It's a fact that slugs don't like copper. They seem to get an electric shock from it. A lot of companies sell copper rings etc. for that purpose---and of course to make money.
http://www.slugrings.co.uk/index.html?gclid=COyO9cT1tJoCFRUhnAodzAFocA
I found a length of electrical cable and stripped the insulation off to leave the bare copper. Then I made several rings to experiment. Have planted sunflowers with:-
sand & 2 rings.
sand and 1 ring.
no sand and 1 ring.
These sunflowers are in a known "slug/snail minefield". It's the fence between me and next door. Their patio is just thru the fence and the enemy get under the stonework to safety. They made a mess of my dahlias last year when I planted there. Will be monitoring over the next few days.
Have put some sunflowers in today with a slight modification. It's a fact that slugs don't like copper. They seem to get an electric shock from it. A lot of companies sell copper rings etc. for that purpose---and of course to make money.
http://www.slugrings.co.uk/index.html?gclid=COyO9cT1tJoCFRUhnAodzAFocA
I found a length of electrical cable and stripped the insulation off to leave the bare copper. Then I made several rings to experiment. Have planted sunflowers with:-
sand & 2 rings.
sand and 1 ring.
no sand and 1 ring.
These sunflowers are in a known "slug/snail minefield". It's the fence between me and next door. Their patio is just thru the fence and the enemy get under the stonework to safety. They made a mess of my dahlias last year when I planted there. Will be monitoring over the next few days.
When I put my bedding plants in it'll be back to the "torch method". Wait until it gets dark then go out with a torch and look for them crawling around---best after it's been raining. I usually collect them in a drinks carton using one of those surgical gloves to avoid the slime and then throw them into the farmer's field across the main road. Have never seen any come back across!!
Today is the 19th. and I'm glad to report that all my sunflowers are still thriving.
Slugcatcher extraordinaire! I shall follow this advise and hope that the defences prove super slug proof! But RTL, don't you know that it's a fact that slug slime is full of goodness and is better than collagen for getting rid of your lines and wrinkles. Don't wear gloves, it's nature's hand cream!
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Welcome to the blog RTL! Excellent anti-slug tips and photos!
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