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Post by Chuckles on Jun 16, 2014 20:09:26 GMT
Wood shavings to help protect veg from slugs and snails. Recently I sowed beetroot and spring onions in a raised bed and sprinkled a liberal amount of the blue pellets about in an effort to keep the S&S's off. They have been eaten almost as soon has they have poked through  and the mess  I've never known a year like it. So, I've given up with the beetroot and onions and am now planning on putting 3 butternut squash out in this bed. I read wood shavings are an alternative to use as a S&S deterant. As I have a huge bag of shaving that I use for the chicken coop the plan is to put a layer all the way around the edge of the bed a couple of inches wide and deep, and maybe sprinkle a few blue pellets in for good measure  . |
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Post by Tig on Jun 17, 2014 9:00:59 GMT
Did you know .... that the blue s & s pellets actually attract them? I only read this the other week, so although they kill them you are also showing them where the best food is!  I like the information on here, although I tend to stick with the pellets as I have to treat the entire garden! www.hostaplants.co.uk/slugs_and_snails.htm |
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 17, 2014 20:51:05 GMT
I had wondered about the blue pellets attracting them Tig. On odd occasions I've put young veg plants out and forgot to pellet and have put it down to luck that they've not been eaten, then when I have pelleted you find the next day that the usual slime and bodies are all around yuk. Good link, I read somewhere that you only need to have a pellet every 4 inches for them to work   Well I've planted my squash today and put the layer of shavings around the edge of the bed (no pellets), just been up to check as its dusk and time for them to come out and no signs of the beasts yet watch this space |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jun 18, 2014 5:12:10 GMT
That's very interesting Tig Chuckles, especially the bit about the fennel, I think I'll try that out as there's tons of it at the allotment. |
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Post by Chuckles on Jun 23, 2014 10:08:10 GMT
Good idea to try out the fennel LG especially if you have an obundence of it, let us know how you get on. The shavings seem to be detering the S&S, I've not seen a sign of them or a trail of slime in an attempt to get over the shavings  |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jun 23, 2014 15:34:24 GMT
Well so far, so good Chuckles. I put the fennel down around the strawberries the next time I was at the allotment and it seems to have been heading them off. We'll see how it goes, I've planted 2 Dahlia into the container where I'm growing some and fingers crossed it will keep them away there too. |
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 9, 2014 10:25:04 GMT
Well I'm amazed with the wood shavings, despite it getting wet it is still detering the beasts. I'm going to sow some salad leaves today and do the same with them.
Hows the Fennel doing LG
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 10, 2014 5:54:32 GMT
It seems to be working quite well Chuckles but needs to be renewed every couple of weeks I think. I'd forgotten to bring blue pellets last time I was at the allotment and had to use fennel. The S&S seem to be keeping away from the Dahlia for the most part, so far so good. Thankfully I was able to get some from a wild bit of ground and still did'nt really have enough for everything. I will keep using it 'tho and put some more down yesterday. |
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Post by Missredhead on Jul 14, 2014 8:34:31 GMT
I like the sound of wood shavings Chuckles...is there a particular make that you use or any old common or garden type? One of my hostas got munched quite badly this year...
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 14, 2014 8:59:11 GMT
I've cut some more fennel and put it mostly around the Dahlia as the Strawberries are pretty much over now. It does seem to be helping to keep the S&S away.
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Post by Dutchy on Jul 15, 2014 8:41:32 GMT
Woodshavings will rot down and use a lot of nitrogen doing so. And in the end slugs do settle underneath. But as long as they work heyho. I throw my slug pellets on my paths ( wood chips btw ) and that seems to work. Most slugs stay on the paths but then I have small beetles that munch the beans, ants that undermine the roots of stuff, especially those yellow field ants, mole crickets that eat anything, mice, rats, and ah well I suppose I too eat of them  What ever we try we will never be alone at the table. I like the fennel trick. I use a lot of Equisetum arvense which also deters slugs. At least that is a good use for the brddy weed. |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 15, 2014 12:13:13 GMT
I did'nt know mares tale was used to deter slugs Dutchy. Do you boil it up and use the cooled mix or just put them down? I'd be worried it would root everywhere. |
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Post by Chuckles on Jul 16, 2014 14:16:26 GMT
OH gets me a very large bag of shavings from our local wood yard Missredhead its only a few pounds, its the sweepings up from the big saws they use to cut timber. I use it for the floor in the chickens coop under there roosting pole. Pleased the fennel is continuing to work for you Ladygardener, if you have plenty it saves on buying pellets  Good thought about it rotting down Dutchy but after the veg has done I'll clear the bed as usual along with the shavings so it won't have time to rot down  Amazing that Equisetum arvense/mares tail deters slugs, you live and leaarn but like LG I'd be worried it would possibly root though. I'm having these visions of you tip toeing around the slugs and snails on the path Dutchy  or do you tread on them . Like Tig said they do attract them and I'd read that its a good idea to but the blue pellets in a jam jar on its side around plants, the jar stops it getting wet and they all pile in for a feed. I don't suppose its a nice thing to see all of them in there  but I'm going to give it a try once I lay my hands on an empty jar |
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Post by Ladygardener on Jul 16, 2014 15:23:37 GMT
Interesting about the jam jar Chuckles. The Fennel has had limited success on one of the Dahlia and I've had to put blue pellets around as well this morning. |
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Post by Dutchy on Jul 29, 2014 9:22:23 GMT
Ladygardener and Chuckles Sorry I have been off again. The mares tail you do not rot down to deter slugs but pile wide around the plant you want protected. Some how the slugs don't like clambering over to the goodies. It works less well when it rains but seems to work even after the mares tail has gone brown. When things are really tender I put a wall of the stuff around it. Yes... I do have plenty to make a wall..... 
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and the mess 
I've never known a year like it.
Amazing that Equisetum arvense/mares tail deters slugs, you live and leaarn but like LG I'd be worried it would possibly root though. 
or do you tread on them 