LJN Blog Posts

Comments

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  pete March 9, 2009 at 9:15pm

  Such a lot of people these days, seem to be alienated from the nature in their gardens. Surely it's as plain as the nose on your face that using slug pellets can't work and you'll only end up with more of them. The manufacturers are probably the same folk who told us Magpies go round beating up smaller birds! (sorry Pip, that wasn't meant to be as brutal as it sounds)
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  Pip Howard March 9, 2009 at 10:39pm

  I can take it, in hindsight difficult subject matter to raise on site full of horticulturalists. And indeed a highly emotive one. The real financial costs of the increasing slug population is huge and set to get worse. Between July 06 and July 07 slugs rose from an estimated average 35 per square metre to 61.
  
  There is very little alternative to the metaldehyde slug pellet, but since traces have been found in drinking water a ban is just on the horizon. The Iron and Aluminium alternatives are just as bad, particularly in the UK, as they are catastrophic for aquatic fauna and as such should not be used outdoors.
  
  The problem in Scandinavia is so bad that the Norwegian government is offering a 10000 krone reward for the best way of eradicating them and in Sweden there are calls for the 'unemployed to be mobilised' to help reduce numbers.
  
  Answers on a postcard
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  Ofer El-hashahar March 10, 2009 at 10:58pm

  Hi Pip,
  I was demonstrating Lawn edging in the Bbc Gardeners world show when someone said it is great idea to create a barrier with that and to put a bit of Vaseline on the top to prevent slugs from coming into the veg area. on the same idea the raised bed that I provide can have a bit of that on the top.
  Great to know you
  
  Back in Israel it was not a big issue but the retailer had few things one of the was a spray based on garlic, another was based on some trees seeds ( can not remember now).
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  Kernewek Gardens March 12, 2009 at 4:03pm

  i am about to add the nemetode worm to my yard veg patch, aparently they are natural parasites that live on slugs and snails, burrowing into them to lay their eggs, which then hatch and have a good feed on their host! theyre not harmful to other preditors either. i'll let you all know how i get on, it couldnt be as bad as last year, when i lost all my beans and peas.
  having kids around is another of my natural techniques, my son loves to stamp on their "tails" and watch the other end fly off! he is 7, so only a natural fascination for him.
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  Sustainable Land Management March 12, 2009 at 8:33pm

  Your son could make a lot of money working for the norwegian government. personally find a good old slug hunt on a balmy evening with your wife, girlfriend or potential girlfriend can't be beaten, what can be better romance and a jar full of slugs.
  Once visited a friends garden in a damp corner of the county and the garden was rampant with the carnivorous species of slug, but the plants were untouched, creepy and watching these monsters stalk their plant loving cousins was like watching a horror movie. Perhaps he should start selling them.
  The old beer trap is still a favourite and really does work well.
  Be really interesting to hear the results of the nematode worm introduction
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  Kernewek Gardens March 13, 2009 at 9:18am

  will keep you all posted
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  Helen Nock July 22, 2009 at 9:10am

  Really interesting and enjoyable topic! I can hardly find a foot hold in my garden on a warm wet night. Iv'e gradually filled the garden with plants they're not very interested in and protect veg and tasty border annuals with barriers of old copper pipe and coal ash from the forge. Interesting to read about the cat impact, we have loads round here. My mother collects slugs and snails every night in old yogurt pots. She can't bear to squish them and re-homes every morning in adjacent park land, rather wild and unkempt and full of predators.
  I will try the crushed garlic spray but give the romantic hunt the go by. Holland and Barret sell snail mucous preparation for beauty treatment.!!!!
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  Pip Howard July 22, 2009 at 5:34pm

  Another method I've not tried personally and I am told will also work is (if you happen to have a dog or I guess cats as well), use the waste from hoovering or sweeping and spread around base of plants?.
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  Helen Nock July 23, 2009 at 12:01am

  They don't like anything that bungs up their foot. I've tried all sorts of home-spun ground barriers but if it's wet enough they'll skate over it. looked at the site products much neater than copper pipe fences for sure. Copper does work, I think wet contact produces electrical charge. Sometimes I find them stunned and lolling about. Not 100% but best method to protect whole patches I found so far. Looks too much of an eyesore to promote in the induisrty tho. I have large hand pressure pump. Like the idea of garlic spray - convenient and fast when inspecting the estate. Will feedback results.
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  Felicity Waters May 6, 2010 at 10:49pm

  hey Helen - the copper can look quite good - my next door neighbour did this
  

  

  
  i reakon there is a funky copper design planter thingy waiting to be designed - i will check out christina's recommendation