Martin B Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 I am having a torrid time with Slugs and small fly like creatures and I need to stop them before it's too late. Crushed egg shells don't work. Would it be ok if I used some dilliuted tea tree or citronella and spray all the plants? All suggestions welcomed! Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Puglet Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 I'm currently trying out nematodes. Not sure if they're working yet though. One of the best things I have ever used is ash. Seems to keep them at bay and quickly improves heavy soils. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jaime Posted April 23, 2007 Share Posted April 23, 2007 My Dad swears by coffee grounds - but then he drinks tons of the stuff. Most of us manage with instant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 I read elsewhere that they wont crawl over dog hair (it's rougher than human hair) .....so if you can locate a source You can but environmentally friendly slug pellets at B&Q now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 Don't start looking at our dog Martin - I'm sure you're two produce enough hair I use slug traps - the ones you fill with beer. There are some newer versions on the market now which are apparently easier to empty. As Carl brews his own beer, he's not too impressed when I use it for slugs Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Christian Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 I used nemaslug a couple of years ago. The only problem was making sure the ground was wet enough. Had the hose out every day for a week just to make sure as it was so dry! Now is the time to do it as the baby slug are around. Get them and you slow the breeding cycle down http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=1848 I have heard that coffee grounds work too. My 'local' coffee shop gives the grounds away. Why not pop in and ask at yours Martin? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 I use Nemaslug too and it works well Martin Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Martin B Posted April 24, 2007 Author Share Posted April 24, 2007 I will investigate nemaslug. Dog hair! Dogs had their haircut yesterday! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fluffygrue Posted April 24, 2007 Share Posted April 24, 2007 The environmentally friendly ones mentioned are actually okay for organic growing - even Garden Organic's shop sells them. I wouldn't use them throughout the year, but as a quick cull in early spring they seemed to do the job and helped my daylilies come up. Safe around pets/birds, obviously. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laura007 Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 my lettuces are being chomped on by the little blighters, but i have been given a tip. its non toxic and available at all good supermarkets, wait for it BRAN. and its cheap, you just put in little heaps or scatter it around and apparently it sees them off, if you know what i mean. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 I was told that oats work. I've tried it out, but no slugs have come out at the minute as it's so dry. So far it seems to be working. However I only put them down on Saturday, so i don't think I have enough evidence yet to say it works. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
craftyhunnypie Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 Erm, I am going to be disgusting now. One year we were over run with slugs - Big fat ones which got in between your toes when you went out for the evening in your stiletto sandals and came back rather drunk. Hubby said if you put salt on them, they will die. I don't want to be christened a slug murderer for this, but I actually did pour salt on a few slugs. In the morning there was a shrivelled load of slugs and a lot of goo! Not very nice, but it worked! Emma.x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ubereglu Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 I have to admit-I found salting slugs quite fun. However it's not very good for your soil and leaves nasty brown patches on your lawn! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Snowy Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 If you go into the garden with a torch after dark you can see the slugs glistening in the torchlight. Then pour salt on them. Don't do it now though, I have super killer chickens to do the work for me! I regularly go round the garden moving pots and stones and they clear all the slugs for me. Don't seem to get too many these days! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted April 30, 2007 Share Posted April 30, 2007 Sinking plastic cups in the ground and filling them with beer is supposed to work....they drown but have a happy death. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 Fridays Gardeners World...slug prevention in raised beds.....Monty Don put copper piping around the top edge of the beds. Slugs hate copper as it gives them an electric shock and so it keeps slugs out. The snag is that the slugs already lurking in the bed will be kept in for the same reason. So he suggests watering the whole patch with the nematode solution A FORTNIGHT before planting out so that the nematodes can do their job...or planting seeds instead. You have to repeat 6 weeks later so it is not cheap but he reckons it is very effective. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 I used nematodes last year, just once and they were brilliant at keeping the slugs down all summer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 Fridays Gardeners World...slug prevention in raised beds.....Monty Don put copper piping around the top edge of the beds. That sounds like a really good idea . Am I right in saying that you can also get copper tape? I imagine that this would be a lot easier to put around the raised beds than the piping? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 I've seen copper tape Gina. Monty Don can come and do my gardening any time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popcorn Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 ....and mine. I've always had a soft spot for Monty. I think Lesley may be ahead of us in the queue though.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Egluntyne Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 Fridays Gardeners World...slug prevention in raised beds.....Monty Don put copper piping around the top edge of the beds. That sounds like a really good idea . Am I right in saying that you can also get copper tape? I imagine that this would be a lot easier to put around the raised beds than the piping? You can. I got mine at B&Q for a fiver for 4 metres. Just did a quick search on 'tinterweb, and you can now get anti snail tape too. Its the same but serrated. Look here. Monty certainly has a certain something about him I agree. I'd have thought he would be too hirsute for you Claret! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 Monty certainly has a certain something about him I agree. I'd have thought he would be too hirsute for you Claret! He is a tad Egluntine, but I always was a sucker for a spot of posh totty. Especially with hands that big Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 Geroff!!!! He's mine! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Dogmother Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 *tuts* I'm sure there's enough to go round Lesley Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lesley Posted May 1, 2007 Share Posted May 1, 2007 No! - all mine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
