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Slug Armageddon

I found a huge load of them over wintering behind some pots on the patio a month or two ago, and they all got killed in the face on the spot. So far, I've unprecedentedly not had any problem with them, touch wood, so I do wonder if the ones I killed (and there must have been 40 or so) were the winter survivors that would have started this year's new lot off.

Sure more will be back in time, but this year, since the fuckers got my horseradish last year, it's zero-tolerance-kill-in-the-face-ville here at 1time towers.

Fucking snaily fucks.
 
i heart them. feel so so bad when i hear the unmistakable crunch of accidently stepping on one. so so sad.:(

9733_139196081615_565146615_2680989_7035193_n.jpg
 
Ive begun my snail experiment.
Ive collected and marked 55 snails and released them on the rest of humanity.

Im counting the hours until they are back behind my jasmine.
 
lol, you marked them.

Yeah, tbf, they do like a nibble. A certain type of snail-like creatures were responsible for eating roughly 40% of my maryjane plants last summer. :mad:

I shant hold it against them.
 
I feel bad killing them- hence me dumping rather than murderating them. Twice in a week.

I am curious to see if the same ones come back.
 
I'm about to start on my salad "knot" garden. I've put an 18 inch metal fence around it to keep the cats out.
I, too chuck the molluscs on my (huge) "compost heap", but I'm bound to put something nasty at the extremities.

I'm designing-in habitat for toads and hedgehogs, but I have neither at the moment.
 
Madusa said:
i heart them. feel so so bad when i hear the unmistakable crunch of accidently stepping on one. so so sad.:(
Click to expand...

I have no love - they eat my precious plants :mad:

I have been going on nightly forays and either bashing/stabbing them or sprinkling salt on them. There are definitely fewer than there were when I started. I have become slightly obsessed :o
 
Would it be possible to gather them, put them in some sort of escape-proof bowl, then put them up somewhere high where the birds can eat them?
 
fogbat said:
Would it be possible to gather them, put them in some sort of escape-proof bowl, then put them up somewhere high where the birds can eat them?
Click to expand...

If I find a batch of snails hibernating during winter I smash their shells and then leave them somewhere the birds can eat them.
 
From GG's link
Nemaslug Slug Killer contains millions of naturally occuring microscopic nematodes that kill slugs and snails both above and below the soil. Once you use Nemaslug nematodes slug control, we doubt you will go back to other methods.

Nemaslug Slug Killer is completely harmless to children, birds, hedgehogs & other wildlife and is safe to apply to food crops. Nemaslug is easy to apply, extremely effective, and is completely safe to use on food crops. Apply just once every 6 weeks!
Click to expand...
No mention of worms though... Im assuming they are safe from these beasts?
 
I've virtually got rid of slugs (and snails) out of my garden over three years (fingers crossed!) A small amount are inevitable, but here's my 10 point plan to getting rid of the fcukers.

1. Raised beds
2. Keep growing areas well weeded
3. Regular evening killing missions. (I favour a pair of scissors and cutting them in half. I'm a veggie but there's no room for sentiment with slugs. You can leave the carcass as a warning if you want!)
4. Keep your compost heap WELL AWAY from growing areas.
5. Remove anything near growing areas which provides a cool/damp haven for slugs - like piles of stones, garden equipment, wood, overgrown grass etc.
6. Lay occasional traps - slugs and snails love wetness so leave a tray of water or a bucket with a lid somewhere obvious and very soon loads will congregate there. Then kill them all. Repeating this a few times soon lowers the local population.
7. Encourage birds into your garden, e.g. by using bird seed - they love a slug or two. (See also 3 re: leaving a carcass!)
8. Use barrier methods to protect young plants - copper rings, plastic bottles with top and bottom cut off.
9. Use deterrant methods - dried crushed egg shells work best. Also coffee grounds. Some people use salt but you dont want to put it too close to the plants and obviously you need to re-lay it if it rains.
10. Keep at it and dont be defated - we will overcome!

Beer traps work well - loads of the little fuckers die by drowing themselves in the beer. It's quite intensive though - you have to fill the beer up regularly and empty the horrible rotting slugs after. It's a waste of good beer really.

You can use nematodes if you have a real problem, but they only work in fine/sandy soil - they wont work in clay type soils.
 
I like the idea of chucking them on the compost heap.. but don't that give you the problem even worse once the compost is ready to be used? :confused:
 
citygirl said:
I like the idea of chucking them on the compost heap.. but don't that give you the problem even worse once the compost is ready to be used? :confused:
Click to expand...

They should be long dead by the time the compost's used. The heat of the heap should kill off any eggs (which would be quite easy to spot if there are any left)
 
Corax said:
You certain they're the same ones? Could it not be that you've just created an unoccupied niche for other snails to move into?

Repeat the experiment, but this time put dots of tippex on their shells.
Click to expand...

Melinda said:
The snail bucket is empty.:(

I intend to carry out the experiment! Pink blush nail varnish will have to do! (Can you still get tipex?!)


I heard a guy on the radio talking about marking his snails and the dropping them off hundreds of yards away, - he said they were back in 3 days. This scares me.
Click to expand...
I marked a bowl of 50 snails with a dot of masonry paint.




Well its been a week and Ive been most amused to see my marked snails adhering to walls all over my road and neighbourhood.

No doubt the dustman has also taken care of a few.

RESULT! Ive found just four back in my garden. :) Transportation works folks!

And the best thing- no guilt!
 
I think my snail kristalnacht a couple of months ago still seems to have stopped them coming back. Second Brixton Hatter's points above, especially the keeping things clean and not giving them hiding places thing.
 
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