[Help] Gardeners Question Time.

[Zeberdi]

A torch, a pair of gloves/tongs for the faint hearted

As I said above.

a bucket with a couple of inches of salty water

I don’t advocate cruelty- killing them with salt is inhumane. They may eat ones’ plants but they don’t deserve a nasty slow death just for eating. They also play an essential role in the ecosystem - both in the food chain and as decomposers of vegetable matter which enriches your soil.

The salt treatment draws water from their bodies, is a slow drawn out process where they secrete mucus to try and counteract the poison - it very possibly causes sensations akin to pain.

Copper or grit around the plant stems are effective solutions and far more humane and ecofriendly.

Think Twice About Using This Age-Old Trick To Deter Slugs From Your Home - House Digest

You may have heard that sprinkling salt on slugs can stop them in their tracks. However, there are a few reasons why you shouldn't use this slug deterrent.

www.housedigest.com

 

[Coldeanseagull]

As I said above.


I don’t advocate cruelty- killing them with salt is inhumane. They may eat ones’ plants but they don’t deserve a nasty slow death just for eating. They also play an essential role in the ecosystem - both in the food chain and as decomposers of vegetable matter which enriches your soil.

The salt treatment draws water from their bodies, is a slow drawn out process where they secrete mucus to try and counteract the poison - it very possibly causes sensations akin to pain.

Copper or grit around the plant stems are effective solutions and far more humane and ecofriendly.

Think Twice About Using This Age-Old Trick To Deter Slugs From Your Home - House Digest

You may have heard that sprinkling salt on slugs can stop them in their tracks. However, there are a few reasons why you shouldn't use this slug deterrent.

www.housedigest.com

I'm sorry, that's a load of bollocks. If you want to come round to my garden and have harsh words with my mollusc population you're welcome. Copper tape only works if you have isolated plants, not near walls or other plants...(and not on spanish slugs) but when they are grown in a normal town garden, no amount of copper or grit or egg shells or beer/orange rind/catapult will work. I have a healthy population of hedgehogs and slow worms but they can't keep up with the way they breed. I don't use salt BTW, as it can have an adverse effect on some of the plants I grow. I've had limited success with epsom salt, but give me good old fashioned metaldehyde any day....or a pair of scissors now the blue pellets are frowned upon

 

[Zeberdi]

I'm sorry, that's a load of bollocks. If you want to come round to my garden and have harsh words with my mollusc population you're welcome. Copper tape only works if you have isolated plants, not near walls or other plants...(and not on spanish slugs) but when they are grown in a normal town garden, no amount of copper or grit or egg shells or beer/orange rind/catapult will work. I have a healthy population of hedgehogs and slow worms but they can't keep up with the way they breed. I don't use salt BTW, as it can have an adverse effect on some of the plants I grow. I've had limited success with epsom salt, but give me good old fashioned metaldehyde any day....or a pair of scissors now the blue pellets are frowned upon

I’ll post some picks of my copper slug deterrents when I get the chance along with my healthy lupins, Delphiniums and Hostas.

It’s not bollix when it works - which it does for me 80% of the time.

Really it needs a combination of deterrents - once established the larger plants are much less vulnerable to be decimated - I tolerate a few slugs. But I do pick off slugs at night if it gets too much.

I use this too as part of an overall control strategy

The wet weather will have bought them out this weekend so I have to get all my copper and grit guards down!


If anyone is using any pesticides or chemical pellets on slugs when they have a hedgehog population, it’s probably best to stop -

Are slug pellets harmful to hedgehogs?

We look at some wildlife-friendly methods of slimy pest control

www.greenservicesdirect.co.uk

 

[Couldn't Be Hyypia]

I'm using the wool.pellets this year on my new dahlias and they seem to be working. I've used all the alternatives over the years and none have really worked.

 

[Weststander]

After a private garden featured recently on BBC2 Gardeners World, today we visited it through the NGS, The Old Rectory, Warbleton. We hadn’t previously used the NGS. A stunning garden, it had it all, including a cute stream. A small sample of what we saw. They employ three professional gardeners!

 

[vegster]

After a private garden featured recently on BBC2 Gardeners World, today we visited it through the NGS, The Old Rectory, Warbleton. We hadn’t previously used the NGS. A stunning garden, it had it all, including a cute stream. A small sample of what we saw. They employ three professional gardeners!

View attachment 204126View attachment 204127

Obviously none of them can use a mower ?

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

Enjoying the warm summer evening here in balmy Roselands.

 

[Weststander]

Enjoying the warm summer evening here in balmy Roselands.
View attachment 204141

In the heatwaves we often get in recent years, does it have a cooler microclimate on those days?

 

[Zeberdi]

As promised - my invention to help ward off slugs!

Need:

• Scissors
• Old/spare plastic pots
• Copper tape

1. CUT BOTTOMS OFF POTS

2. CUT CROWNS

3. STICK COPPER TAPE AROUND RIM

4. HEY PRESTO!

 

[A mex eyecan]

I’m trying to build up a border with more perennials. I may have to dig up and move a few of the existing ones.
Today I came across a nice little nursery (Rapkyns) at Broad Oak. Some lovely healthy plants at some reasonable pricing. Another dozen purchased, in 2 and 3 litre pots, for just a tad over £60

 

[Green Cross Code Man]

In the heatwaves we often get in recent years, does it have a cooler microclimate on those days?

Probably the opposite. Whilst the shade is welcome, if it's warm and humid it seems to trap the heat. If the weather is the type that only feels warm in the sun however, in late afternoon it can feel cooler than elsewhere as it's so shaded. It's definitely got it's own microclimate, it's often measuring several degrees warmer than expected.

 

[Weststander]

I’m trying to build up a border with more perennials. I may have to dig up and move a few of the existing ones.
Today I came across a nice little nursery (Rapkyns) at Broad Oak. Some lovely healthy plants at some reasonable pricing. Another dozen purchased, in 2 and 3 litre pots, for just a tad over £60

That’s great value compared to mail order.

 

[The Grockle]

Our wildlife pond has welcomed its first frog two months after digging it out!

 

[vegster]

Our wildlife pond has welcomed its first frog two months after digging it out!

View attachment 204157View attachment 204156View attachment 204155

Always partial to a Frog, have a little above ground pond in a shady corner up the plot, sometimes see plenty of small 1 " Fogs or occasionally just one or two nig ones.

 

[Jack Straw]

As promised - my invention to help ward off slugs!

Need:

• Scissors
• Old/spare plastic pots
• Copper tape

View attachment 204135

1. CUT BOTTOMS OFF POTS
View attachment 204136

2. CUT CROWNS
View attachment 204137


3. STICK COPPER TAPE AROUND RIM

View attachment 204139


4. HEY PRESTO!

View attachment 204142

Have you contacted Dragons' Den?

 

[Coldeanseagull]

As promised - my invention to help ward off slugs!

Need:

• Scissors
• Old/spare plastic pots
• Copper tape

View attachment 204135

1. CUT BOTTOMS OFF POTS
View attachment 204136

2. CUT CROWNS
View attachment 204137


3. STICK COPPER TAPE AROUND RIM

View attachment 204139


4. HEY PRESTO!

View attachment 204142

As I said, it's no good if you can't isolate the plant. Anything larger than a maxi plug will have it's leaves overhanging or touching other plants.
The scissors work when in conjunction with a torch.....a way to 'halve' the slug population

 

[Zeberdi]

As I said, it's no good if you can't isolate the plant. Anything larger than a maxi plug will have it's leaves overhanging or touching other plants.
The scissors work when in conjunction with a torch.....a way to 'halve' the slug population

As I said they work for me otherwise I wouldn’t have shared it. I have densely packed flower beds too - I trim the lower leaves off and thin out my beds a bit. Also I plant stuff mixed into the beds that slugs don’t like.

Nothing works on its own, it takes a multi-pronged approach. Will post some Lupins over the weekend- slugs love them but I manage to keep them at bay.

Btw - we have enormous yellow slugs in Norfolk so don’t think you are worse off!

NB water early morning before sun is up - watering in the evening leaves wet soil overnight and attracts slugs!

Also I don’t put plugs straight in ground - I I let them establish themselves in pots first for several months - or pack wool pellets round them.

Good luck

 

[Zeberdi]

Have you contacted Dragons' Den?

uh?

 

[Jack Straw]

uh?

You could be on to making a fortune. It all depends on how much money you need and what percentage share in the company you are willing to give to the successful Dragon!

 

[Zeberdi]

You could be on to making a fortune. It all depends on how much money you need and what percentage share in the company you are willing to give to the successful Dragon!

Sorry you’ve lost me - I haven’t a clue what you are talking about