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Post by Ron on Oct 24, 2017 10:19:34 GMT
There is so much advice given on the internet about slugs and snails and how to either deter them or kill them altogether. The trouble is that for every method someone advocates another claims that it doesn't work. I've been using pellets, the modern version which is said to be safer for the environment, but I have decided to try copper tape on my pots. The claim on the package is that it works well but only time will tell. Do you have an opinion or experience to share?
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Post by Ron on Oct 24, 2017 10:45:20 GMT
I am fascinated by science, particularly physics. I read a lot on the subject and am lucky enough to understand some quite technical details as long as the maths associated with it isn't too advanced. I found a video online where someone had tested the copper tape on pots simply by placing a slug nearby and watching what happened. Sure enough the slug was deterred by the new, shiny tape and wouldn't cross it. However when the same thing was tried with older tape that had weathered the slug crawled straight across it. The older tape had a film of oxide over it which may be the explanation, you need to keep it clean, perhaps even replace it regularly.
It had been suggested that an electric current was generated within the tape and that this provided the deterrent giving the slug a small shock. Unfortunately this is not possible. A circuit is needed for a current to be produced and a single band of copper does not provide a circuit. In any metal however, the electrons are loosely held by the nuclei of the atoms especially in good conductors. Photons from light may be absorbed and cause the metal to store extra electrical energy which may be felt by a slug if it comes into contact. This could indeed be why it is said to work. There is a major problem with it though if that is the case. You need light, preferably a strong source of light for photons to be absorbed and of course slugs and snails are predominantly active at night.
It is possible though that any charge in the copper might persist for some time if it was insulated. That would suggest that plastic pots would be best and metal ones should certainly be avoided. It would also be important not to touch the copper strip as that would ground the charge and stop it working. A wet surface might also cause any charge to be lost so rain or dew could be a problem. I wonder how sensitive a meter would need to be to detect any such change and if the results would be different according to the conditions.
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Post by Rosefriend on Oct 24, 2017 12:49:02 GMT
Tried beer traps years ago and all I got was drowned mice and the smell was revolting... Went out with a bucket of water, salt and a torch - got about a 100 until my OH said that he would call the men in white if I stayed outside... I am back to pellets but the Bio ones are a waste of time - I use the real McCoy - sorry but after all the work that we do in the garden, I am not prepared to lose everything by slugs. The snails do very little damage, we don't get the really massive ones here, just slugs... Think it could have been Dutchy that used copper tape, - not sure now... |
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Post by Ron on Oct 24, 2017 13:07:53 GMT
Tried beer traps years ago and all I got was drowned mice and the smell was revolting... Went out with a bucket of water, salt and a torch - got about a 100 until my OH said that he would call the men in white if I stayed outside... I am back to pellets but the Bio ones are a waste of time - I use the real McCoy - sorry but after all the work that we do in the garden, I am not prepared to lose everything by slugs. The snails do very little damage, we don't get the really massive ones here, just slugs... Think it could have been Dutchy that used copper tape, - not sure now... Drowned mice, Rosefriend? Did some good then, they would have your bulbs also! Bio pellets? They aren't the so called advanced ones are they? That's what I use. Gardeners World magazine recommended them.  |
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Post by Rosefriend on Oct 24, 2017 14:53:21 GMT
Tried beer traps years ago and all I got was drowned mice and the smell was revolting... Went out with a bucket of water, salt and a torch - got about a 100 until my OH said that he would call the men in white if I stayed outside... I am back to pellets but the Bio ones are a waste of time - I use the real McCoy - sorry but after all the work that we do in the garden, I am not prepared to lose everything by slugs. The snails do very little damage, we don't get the really massive ones here, just slugs... Think it could have been Dutchy that used copper tape, - not sure now... Drowned mice, Rosefriend? Did some good then, they would have your bulbs also! Bio pellets? They aren't the so called advanced ones are they? That's what I use. Gardeners World magazine recommended them. The Slug Pellets that are advertised all over here are Bio (Neudorff Ferramol) - fantastic according to the ads, gets rid of all slugs etc etc...waste of time as far as I can see. I got Slug Pellets from Compo and yes they leave slime but I like to see where the little buggas have been .... I also throw quite a few about early in the season to get them to come and I get rid of hundreds in one fell swoop at times... |
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Post by Tig on Oct 24, 2017 15:26:15 GMT
I too stick with the blue pellets, the organic versions have failed for me. I've tried beer traps but I have so many s & s that they need changing too regularly or they stink. I've used the copper tape, it does tarnish as you say Ron, then stops working. Some people seem to do quite well with coffee grounds collected from the big coffee shops, we rarely have ground coffee so I have never had enough to do a proper experiment, same with egg shells. People who grow hostas have also reported success in deterring s & s attacks by watering with a garlic solution. I have been tempted to try this, perhaps next year.
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Post by andy on Oct 24, 2017 17:24:03 GMT
Blue pellets for me.....the size of the garden and them amount of plants that slugs love means i can only go that way. Tried the woolen stuff and it was terrible.
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Post by Barbara on Oct 24, 2017 17:28:40 GMT
Size 3 boot, a frog, 2 hedgehogs and beer traps, and I go out and throw them over the school fence, and I still get loads of both slugs and snails, the black bird helps me out as well sometimes.
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Post by Ron on Oct 25, 2017 4:12:27 GMT
I worry about the effect of pellets on the environment and wildlife but at least the claim is that the advanced ones are safe. I suppose there isn't a great deal of choice really.  |
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Post by Dutchy on Oct 26, 2017 8:03:30 GMT
Nah no copper tape. It has long since proven to be in effective.
I do use mammal friendly pellets at times. Escargo works for me. I Mainly use them very early in Spring when the S&S seem to explode in multitudes.
Other than that I have my wooden shoes and an execution place.. harrrr
Plus frogs, hedgehog blackbirds etc.
Making my plot wildlife friendly will at some time bring in all slug killing beasties. Not that one can ever get rid of them but then again they are part of nature for a reason.
Which one? tip of tongue er... clearing away old plant bits?
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Post by Ron on Oct 26, 2017 8:25:18 GMT
I would love a pond to encourage frogs in the garden but the housing association don't allow one so I'm stuck there. Neighbouring cats and jack russells scare the hedgehogs away as well, but at least they keep the rabbits down. You're right of course Dutchy, about slugs getting rid of detritus but there are only a few types that eat growing plant shoots and suchlike, many don't do that, and I suppose pellets are indiscriminate in that regard, they don't distinguish between good and bad. |
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Post by Dutchy on Oct 27, 2017 7:59:05 GMT
Very true Ron.
So I mostly stamp them out. Only when it gets too much do I do poison. Which this year has been twice, not bad for a hole year.
I won't do it these last months. Hand control is easy now.
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Post by Ron on Oct 27, 2017 10:17:29 GMT
I've been planting bulbs and I put pellets down afterwards just in case, whether I've seen slugs about or not. I had hostas at my old address which were a magnet for the little devils and they seem attracted to lilies as well, so I would regularly scatter a few around those as well.
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