Slugs / snails and Hostas
KT53
Posts: 8,447
I've tried a few solutions to try to stop slugs and snails having my hostas for lunch, never with complete success.
This year I've applied copper tape to all the pots and, although it's still quite early days, not one has been attacked. I would provide a word of caution though - when flattening the tape down use gloves. The edges of the tape are extremely sharp and I didn't realise I'd shredded a couple of finger tips until I notices blood running down my hand!
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Ouch! Good luck! I find the tape stops some but not all. I usually combine with bark and coffee grounds round the edge too. Today, however, I found a juicy slug nestled in my bag of bark mulch - grrrrrr!
Just been out on an expedition and killing spree
We haven't had nearly so many this year as it was much drier than usual. Nothing really stops them here when the conditions are right, apart from hand picking - especially in early spring.
I always laugh when people recommend crushed shells. The render on our house walls is crushed shell. They regularly scale them - up above the ground floor windows.
I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
Crushed shells and copper tape doesn't work for me here either. They are also master climbers and will scale an allium to lean over and reach a hosta, for example. I've found lambs wool pellets work as a mulch & nematodes, but that's about it. The torch patrols are still necessary for the Rudbeckia's here
My pussy cat has recently decided he prefers to eat outside.
Two nights ago I went retrieve his bowl which still had a couple of pieces of cat food in. There were also 3 fat slugs tucking in as well.
Said bowl was in the middle of the large shingle patio - at least 4 metres from the nearest plant of any type and probably 6m from any typical slug-dinner plant.
So they obviously don't mind slithering over several metres of sharp shingle either
I only just discovered I had slugs when I was cutting back all my hostas for the fall. Is there anything I can do now to prevent them from coming back in the spring?
Nematodes for the Spring time watered in, not sure if they supply to the US. I'm guessing you are American from the use of the word 'Fall'?
Last edited: 18 October 2017 20:19:49
Actually Canada! Thanks for the info. I'll look into it. Saw the little buggers crawling around today and found several nestled down in the hostas close to where the stalks sprout out at the bottom. Wondered if I should be doing anything now or just wait til spring