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Slug and copper tape experiment

SkylarksSkylarks Posts: 379
in Wildlife gardening
Morning all, 

I know lots of people have found copper tape doesn’t work as a slug deterrent, so I decided to do an experiment. Found one early this morning and placed it near the edge of the copper tape. 

Unfortunately, this site doesn’t allow video clips to be uploaded and I don’t have a YouTube account. Here’s a video from someone else who had the same reaction from her slugs and a snail. 


I don’t have a battery attached to my tape and the reaction from the slug I found was the same. I use copper tape for guitars and not the thin copper tape sold in garden centres.
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Posts

  • SkylarksSkylarks Posts: 379
    Here’s some screenshots from my clip.





  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,985
    Maybe there's hope yet :) thanks for doing the experiment
    What is the copper tape called that's used for guitars?
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • SkylarksSkylarks Posts: 379
    Mine was purchased from Amazon. If you prefer buying from a local shop, you can go to a shop that sells musical instruments. I’m sure they should have some or can order some in for you  :)


  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,985
    Thanks! :)
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    Try making a wide square with the tape and putting some slugs inside the square and see what happens. It would be interesting.
  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,985
    Good idea @Fire
    Will try that if I decide I deserve the Vegtrug :)
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391
    I wonder if some of the copper tapes available have a protective coating (to stop them acquiring verdigris) and that's why some don't appear to work?
    Someone has already done the experiment suggested with tape made for this purpose, but @Skylarks tape definitely shows the copper is being affected by the atmosphere, so I wonder if it's the copper compounds in the verdigris which are the actual deterrent?

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    There are a lot of slug v copper videos on youtube, but it seems to make a big difference how wide the tape is and what kind of material it is - cheapo plastic backed as used in the above vid etc. It's definitely interesting to try different types of copper.

    Also try a wide salt square and see how long the slugs take to get out.


  • Pete.8Pete.8 Posts: 9,985
    Interesting thought Bob
    I quite like the idea of the 'electric fence' in the previous clip.
    I also had a thought about making a salt-filled moat, but that's probably impractical.
    I have loads of wire I could strip and see if I can rig up something with that for an experiment when I get the time
    Knowledge is knowing that a tomato is a fruit.
    Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
  • FireFire Posts: 17,116
    I have made a 'salt table' in previous hot, dry summers - putting the legs of a cuttings table in small bowls of salt - such that molluscs couldn't climb up. Said table was on decking, so even if it rained a bit, the salt just got watered and then dried out again and any overflow went onto paving and then into the drains. It worked pretty well. You have to have the table well away from any hedging or fencing, else the buggers will abseil down or bridge themselves on to the table.
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