We all have one and this is mine, what is yours?
Big, small, fat, thin, black, brown or beige horrible destructive slimy creatures, I despise them all.
I don't like using slug pellets if I have to resort to them then I use an organic one
It is effective to a certain extent, I also do put down slug traps with some cheap beer in, I have tried in the past nematodes with fairly good results but they are an expensive way of treating slugs, for one poly tunnel to use nematodes effectively it would cost approx £70, with two tunnels and a fruit cage and the outside beds it would cost over £500 each year, now who can afford to throw that sort of money at growing fruit and veg it makes it very expensive food.
Copper tape around pots is OK but you do have to keep cleaning it for it to work.
So what is a girl to do
Scissors are my most used tool in the fight against slugs, see a slug cut it in half, these scissors live in my pocket, they cost nothing to use and very effective when used on a daily basis, over a few weeks there is a reduction in slime producers, some days I have to really hunt for them, some people put salt on slugs that is alright on hard standing areas but you don't want to be putting salt on the soil in your growing areas, some people pick up slugs and throw them over the fence, they only come back and its not really nice to throw them into your neighbours plot, you might get twice as many thrown back, cut them in half, birds hedgehogs and other wildlife come and feast on them.
Now for something pretty
picked a few of the late roses yesterday to bring indoors
Last night there was a stunning harvest moon, I took this photo from the back garden.
Diary
November 3rd 1982
Drenched another 36 ewes with fluke and worm, trimmed feet and marked with S, put them up with hired blue faced ram, (68 in all)
Drenched 10 from Dorset, trimmed feet and marked with S, Blue Boy fell ill in all the attention except marking with S, took him to vets at Llandysul, gave him terranyain and poretrovite to be treated with antibiotic for another two days.
Collecting ram from Mr Little tomorrow.
Man came from electricity, appalled at wiring, here for 21/2 hours.
N.F.U. dinner dance £7.50 each.
Dawn....you are so brave. Just the thought of cutting through a slug makes me heave. I just couldn't do it....as much as I hate them too.
ReplyDeleteI hate slugs, I throw them on our garage roof, the pigeons do the rest. I also don't like the look of worms, but love the job they do, I always make sure they are on the soil when I see them.
ReplyDeleteI get some slugs in the garden but mainly I have a battle with caterpillers.I wonder if we get less rain they will come out less, I have no idea but I know they are a proper nuisance to my turnips!
ReplyDeleteNo slugs in the courtyard because the chickens have eaten them all. But no chickens now so anticipate a slug explosion next Spring. I shall use slug pellets and beer traps. Either that or get defeated with seeing young seedlings totally decapitated over night!
ReplyDeleteI put them and caterpillars in a dish for the birds in the centre of the lawn.
ReplyDeleteI think I have too many garden enemies to name! Mice are one of mine! I think there must be hundreds in the garden, I really should try and trap more of them!
ReplyDeleteI use 'wildlife friendly' slug pellets. If I didn't, I wouldn't have a single vegetable. It's the only non-Bio product I use; I have no choice.
ReplyDeleteCats! Would you believe. They keep you know whatting in my veg plot and it's disgusting! Not a lot I can do of course.
ReplyDeleteDeer. They ate all my tomatoes this year and a bunch of other plants. Not sure what to do about them. Have to rethink next years garden. I think deer are pretty but I'd rather be feeding us than them!
ReplyDeleteYears ago I used to do an evening patrol with my Mother armed with sharp stones. Kind of makes my stomach heave though no matter how much I detest those slimy little beasts! x
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