Slug issue - looking for a dog/bird friendly resolution
nadine12
Posts: 45
I noticed that the slugs were destroying every plant in my garden in autumn so I'd distributed seaweed around each plant which seemed to help, but recently it seems they have upped their game again. I was loathe to put down pellets as we have dogs and lots of wild birds - is there another solution or are pellets the best option? I'm not poring can of beer for them etc as they give me the heebie jeebies so I really don't want to see or dispatch them manually!
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Nematodes ... when the soil is warm enough.
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
You could also try coffee used beans some morrisons have them in their cafes free, also could try sheep's wool pelits, or even egg shells broken up.
Nematodes or mulch with sheep's wool pellets as Jason says, both work here. Nematodes slightly more difficult on a larger garden but worth it.
Oh my! I just googled nematodes and they look as disgusting as a slug! It's quite a large border (20 metre x 1) and then 2 large patches. Do you just tip them on the ground? shudder! This is my first year as a gardener and I had no idea this was what was involved! I'm enjoying it though - despite the slugs!
You can buy "The Little Book of Slugs" for about £2 from the Centre for Alternative Technology. It describes dozens of pet- and wildlife-friendly ways to destroy or deter slugs and it's an amusing read.
Nematode are too small for you to see. You buy them as a powder which you mix with water and water on the bed. Instructions are on the pack. Don't order them until the ground is warm eniugh for them to work as you can't store them for very long at all.
Get the right ones. There are types for slugs, others for ants and others for weevils.
Last edited: 04 February 2018 07:00:39
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
If you google "garlic recipe for slugs" there are various options. I haven't tried any of them, so I can't recommend them but will give it a go this year.
The other thing I do is collect eggshells, pop them in the oven for a few minutes, then grind them with a mortar and pestle and keep them in a jar. This year I am going to add garlic granules to the mix and spread it around the plants that slugs are attracted to.
Ok thank you, it's quite a large area so I am going to try the nematodes!
Last edited: 04 February 2018 22:46:43