4m x 3m Omlet pen, cube, new auto door still boxed and coop light

[chooklady]

We are making some more raised beds. We are unsure what to put on the ground in between the beds. We are putting membrane down first Do bark chppings deter slugs and snails, if not what would you recommend?

Nothing to expensve.

Many thanks

Nicola

[Happy chickens!]

I have found that the slugs love most types of mulches that you might use for a path. I try and grow organically and have had some success this year with the type of iron based slug pellets that are safe for wildlife.

 

I also grow some 'sacrificial' plants that the slugs and caterpillers can eat. Our allotment steward always goes out at night with his torch to squash as many as poss.

 

The cheapest thing to use is cardboard with clippings on top, but you will find the slugs underneath, as with the membrane, so just try lifting every so often to check. Keep a look out on freecycle for anyone giving away paving slabs or bricks you can use too.

[majorbloodnock]

A few thoughts here.

 

Firstly, slugs get a minute electric shock that they hate if they touch copper. Copper tape such as this is impractical for a whole garden, but for a raised bed it'd be ideal. The only things you need to make sure are that the band of copper is wide enough that a slug can't arch its body and get over the copper without touching it, and that the copper is cleaned every now and then with a bit of vinegar to avoid any tarnish degrading its effectiveness.

 

Secondly, slugs hate sharp surfaces, so I've seen a fair bit of success from surrounding plants with crushed egg shell - presumably something you'll have in plentiful supply.

 

Finally, slug control products based on nematodes (such as Nemaslug) are very effective so long as you're careful to follow the instructions.

[Couperman]

I use an electric fence around some of my raised beds and it works quite well.

Its basically two loops of galvanised wire half and inch apart. One loop is connected to the + of a battery pack and the other loop to the -.

 

Slugs crossing the wire complete the circuit and get a belt. they really don't like it.

 

Saved my strawbs this year

 

Nemaslug works well too.

 

Kev.

[Christian]

I remember you posting about it a while ago Kev. Do you have any pictures/instructions for a Non-sparky? The set up, not the frazzled slugs

[Couperman]

I remember you posting about it a while ago Kev. Do you have any pictures/instructions for a Non-sparky? The set up, not the frazzled slugs

 

 

If not I still have a few kits in the garage waiting to be fitted. I will take some photo's and cobble some instructions/parts list together and possibly a video if I can find a suitable suicide stunt slug.

 

I might upgrade to a solar powered solution

 

I won't have time today as I'm off to see the dentist to have me gob filled with lead. I love having my teeth drilled

 

 

 

Kev.

[chooklady]

I remember you posting about it a while ago Kev. Do you have any pictures/instructions for a Non-sparky? The set up, not the frazzled slugs

 

 

If not I still have a few kits in the garage waiting to be fitted. I will take some photo's and cobble some instructions/parts list together and possibly a video if I can find a suitable suicide stunt slug.

 

I might upgrade to a solar powered solution

 

I won't have time today as I'm off to see the dentist to have me gob filled with lead. I love having my teeth drilled

 

 

 

Kev.

 

 

Sounds interesting, I'm sure my OH will love setting something like that up!!

[Christian]

I remember you posting about it a while ago Kev. Do you have any pictures/instructions for a Non-sparky? The set up, not the frazzled slugs

 

 

If not I still have a few kits in the garage waiting to be fitted. I will take some photo's and cobble some instructions/parts list together and possibly a video if I can find a suitable suicide stunt slug.

 

I might upgrade to a solar powered solution

 

I won't have time today as I'm off to see the dentist to have me gob filled with lead. I love having my teeth drilled

 

 

 

Kev.

 

*hundreds of slugs trying to get away from Kev*

 

Thanks for that Kev. Hope it isn't too bad at the dentist. Don't bite the inside of your mouth!

[Couperwife]

its quite amusing its like the slug pied piper in reverse

 

cathy

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[Couperman]

Well I'm back from my visit to the White Angel. He did a wonderful job of paralysing my face but stangely it didn't numb the tooth and it did smart a bit.

 

Anyhow all better now, I think.

 

So here goes

 

You will need;

 

1 empty washing up bottle

 

1 heavy duty staple gun.

 

1 electric drill ( I used my dremmel type thingybob)

 

1 abs 120mm enclosure from Maplin £3.09

 

found here

 

1 battery box from Maplin £0.99

 

found here

 

1 battery clip from Maplin £0.59

found here

 

2 large chocolate block connector things £0.10 from any diy type shop

 

some galvanised garden wire from wilkos £0.99 for 20 metres.

 

like this

 

Firstly you need drill two small holes in the back of the box so you can screw it to the raised bed.

 

Using the end of the battery clip as a template cut a hole in the side of box so the battery clip will go through, it is a tight fit but bigger boxes get quite pricey.

 

 

Attach the abs box to the raised bed and fit the battery box, batteries and the clip lead.

 

attach two continous loops of galvanised garden all around the raised bed with the staple gun and connect the ends of each loop with the chock blocks. The loops should be about 1/2" apart and not touching each other.

 

You the attach the red wire to one loop and the black wire to the other loop. I put wires under the head of the connecting screws.

 

The circuit is only made when a slimey touches both wires at the same time and he gets a very unpleasant 12v supprise!

 

I also added a loop over the connector block to stop them using it as a bridge. You the just need to make sure weeds don't give them a way to bypass it.

 

 

 

this one has been running over a year on the same batteries.

 

I hope this helps and happy frying.

 

 

I can't remember what the washing up bottle was for but they always used one on Blue Peter.

 

Kev.

[Christian]

......and there was me with sticky backed plastic and a wire coat hanger at the ready!

 

Thanks for that Kev, appreciate your time

 

Will try and rig something up Watch out slugs!! Just need to sort one out to zap wood pigeons now

[Couperwife]

what about the toilet roll tubes , no one used the toilet roll tubes

 

oh, well, it will never work then

 

Ive seen the lectric slug splatter in action Christian, its great

 

cathy

x