Talkback: Slugs and snails - Talkback

08/11/2007 at 20:51

I have been devastated to find the depths of viciousness to which I have sunk. I cannot see a slug without KILLING it. Do I need therapy? Help!

Gardeners' World Web User

09/11/2007 at 14:10

Ginjosie - interesting to hear about the fly traps, I'll use that next year...they're less of an issue now that temperatures are dropping...that is until you open one of the 'chosen' windows in the top of the house and they hurtle out from the frames!!! YUK!

Mary - suffice to say...'you and me both'...there are a few things which seem to escape my usually rather pacifist outlook!

Gardeners' World Web User

09/11/2007 at 18:50

I HATE SNAILS!!! I have a v large Skimmia japonica which during the summer housed hundreds of snails under the leaves. I regularly had to harvest them into a large bucket of hot salty water. LOVELY!!! I think I may need therapy too!!

Gardeners' World Web User

09/11/2007 at 19:48

There was a comment on Gardener's World a few years ago, to the effect that it was useless to toss surplus snails into the neighbour's garden, owing to their strong homing sense. The presenter went on to say "if you don't believe me, try painting their shells with nail polish before you toss them!" I tried it by painting a snails shell and then carrying it down the garden - it took 5 days to return. Having painted others using several different colours and tried the same thing I would say a) they certainly live for many years as we still have the originals b) you can easily see them and so don't tread on them and c) a mossy wall after rain is like a field of jewels - try it if you don't believe me!

Gardeners' World Web User

09/11/2007 at 23:15

I have got myself a couple of chickens which I keep in a coop. I go out at night and collect the slugs and snails and feed them to the chickens. They absolutely love them, and if you crush the shells of the snails it gives them the calcium they need to make their egg shells when they eat them. If you don't crush the shells they don't seem to bother eating them. Alternatively eat the snails yourself just make sure you clean them first. Perhaps 'Gardeners World' could publish an article on how to clean them. I clean them with carrot which shows up orange when they are ready. Bit of Garlic Butter and ooh la la! Delicious.

Gardeners' World Web User

10/11/2007 at 16:37

The problem with beer traps etc is that I've found other beasties in the mix - I only want rid of slugs and snails. My husband had some old copper pipe that I placed next to some snails. They recoiled every time they got near.

Gardeners' World Web User

10/11/2007 at 16:37

I hate slugs all that hard work we do just for the slugs and snails to eat. Try bran around you plants and vegs, it works for me and my friends.

Gardeners' World Web User

11/11/2007 at 15:35

There a Nightmare, Some times you could kill them but I just put them in the Gardening Bin!

Gardeners' World Web User

11/11/2007 at 16:21

Mary, I think I may need to join you in therapy! I seem to have been in a constant battle with slugs and snails this year. We have now put in a pond in the hope that the frogs will help keep the slugs and snails down next year. I wish I could attract a resident hedgehog (I am awaiting delivery of a hedgehog lodge) to help in the battle against the blighters and to help me keep what sanity I have left!!

Gardeners' World Web User

11/11/2007 at 17:28

An American friend uses a solution of ammonia and water and 'hits slugs like a squirt gun'. I have not tried this yet, but it conjures up quite a picture.

Gardeners' World Web User

12/11/2007 at 15:48

I find a small bowl of water with a squirt of washing up liquid does the trick, pick up your slug/snail drop them in the bowl and hey presto they are done for.

Gardeners' World Web User

13/11/2007 at 20:17

Have you tried SLUG GONE. Safe for Environment, safe for Wildlife/Birds(Hedgehogs). A must to try.

Gardeners' World Web User

14/11/2007 at 13:49

An old gardener advised me to drink the beer before deploying it in the traps. It works too!

Gardeners' World Web User

14/11/2007 at 14:52

I've used the nematode control (nemslug etc available from many websites) for several years. It is never 100% effective but I've trialled it over the years by not applying on some parts of the garden, delaying, diluting the applications etc. and now I won't use anything else and in general don't find I need to!

Downsides are:- a) the cost b) remembering to do the reapplication c) it appears less effective against snails, but in my case these are a lesser problem.

Gardeners' World Web User

12/12/2007 at 17:30

I put my slugs and snails in water and jeys fluid, works a treat.

Gardeners' World Web User

11/01/2008 at 15:24

Thinking about sprinkling salt on veggie patch. Has anyone tried this? if so, did the plants suffer?

Gardeners' World Web User

10/02/2008 at 10:05

I understand that snails get an electric shock off copper and copper bands can be bought, at a price, to go round pots etc. The cost of running these bands round my raised beds would be prohibitive but I wondered whether copper wire might work. Has anyone tried this?

Gardeners' World Web User

14/05/2008 at 11:14

last year was a very bad for slugs and snails but much later than this,I AM SORRY TO SAY I was out last night pulling them off my lupins (which by the way had organic wild life friendly on the box does this include slugs and snails ?) around them anyway I can't kill them so into the green bin they went. Last year I tried slug traps but all I got in them was garden friendlies so bin it will be this year,can't wait for tadpoles I'll have no plants left.

Gardeners' World Web User

26/05/2008 at 16:12

How can you tell if a hedgehog has eaten a snail? Does it eat the shell aswell? Does it break the shell first or does it leave an intact empty shell? I have a hedgehog house in the garden and have found a few intact empty snail shells close by, have the snails been predated or have they just died?

Gardeners' World Web User

09/06/2008 at 01:14

Garlic wash has not worked for me. Tried it full strength and watered down and even tried it on the snails that were resting or traversing over the copper tape!! Please, please...is there not a scientist or a magician that can rid us of these greedy pests.?