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Post by Spruance on Apr 19, 2007 12:24:36 GMT
I don't know how they are managing it, or where they hide during the daytime, but something is munching some of my GH plants, and whatever it is leaves the tell-tale slime trail behind. The plants in question (petunias were on the menu last night) are on B&Q plastic staging, and despite searching vigorously, there is not a slug or a snail in sight. We have occasionally found small snails in the GH, but they must be very determined, given that the GH floor is solid concrete.  Although I am loathe to do so, it is almost tempting to resort to slug pellets (in the GH only I hasten to add), and dispose of the little blighters via the wheely bin. Unless anyone knows of an alternative solution? |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2007 13:11:18 GMT
Spruance, have you tried copper tape? It really does seem to work. I have it wrapped around the base of my mini-GH after finding several things munched - obvously that's not an option for you, given the size of your GH, but what about wrapping it around vulnerable pots? I've previously tried beer traps, gravel collars and - most recently - nematodes - copper is the only thing that seems to do the job;D ... cheers ...
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TeeGee
Assistant Gardener
Gardening adds years to your life and life to your years.
Posts: 218
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Post by TeeGee on Apr 19, 2007 14:07:33 GMT
Have a look under the rim and the ribs on the bottom of trays, I have found the newly hatched offspring here on a few occasions.
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Post by Spruance on Apr 19, 2007 15:34:08 GMT
CC: I have thought about copper tape but I'm not sure if it would be viable in this case as the plants in question are mainly summer bedding in plug trays. Oddly enough the 3 dozen lettuce plants in troughs under the fixed staging are so far completely unscathed (Touch wood!).
TeeGee: That's a good idea, I'll have a look at that. I can't imagine that they all decamp back to Snail HQ every morning, so they have to be somewhere nearby.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 19, 2007 16:02:11 GMT
Spruance, try scattering some bran around your GH  Slugs love it but they cannot digest it and they swell up and die, very effective.  It needs to be kept dry though  |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on Apr 19, 2007 18:53:14 GMT
I have the same problem Spru. It's really frustrating because I just couldn't find the little blighters...I didn't want to use slug pellets as they kill ground beetles that I've also seen in the GH...
I've found a few small slugs and snails IN the gravel trays around the pots with seedlings in. I've used nematodes for the first time this year in the GH as well as the garden generally....I may use the slug pellets as well in and amongst the seedlings in the trays...just not on the floor of the GH.
I've used copper tape around pots but hadn't thought about using it on the staging legs.
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Post by Spruance on Apr 20, 2007 14:11:33 GMT
Spruance, try scattering some bran around your GH Slugs love it but they cannot digest it and they swell up and die, very effective. It needs to be kept dry though Yes I might try that Rita, I could always put some on a sheet of card around the plants in question. The snails/slugs are very particular - they don't go for everything! ;D |
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Post by Deleted on Apr 21, 2007 16:22:03 GMT
Got the same problem in my GH slime trails over my tomatoes but not a signi keep going out but cant find anything they are also eating my dwarf sunflowers found 4 slugs under the pots so they were moved and dosed in salt ;D.
Give Ritas bran a go im trying it too, good luck.
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Post by Chuckles on Apr 22, 2007 22:02:41 GMT
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Post by Spruance on Apr 22, 2007 22:08:03 GMT
That might be worth a try Chuckles. Last night they had a munch of the geraniums (pelargoniums), but obviously didn't like the taste as only one hole but loads of slime trails.
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Post by Deleted on Apr 22, 2007 22:25:27 GMT
Today me and little fella went through every plant pot and every tray in their 5* hotel/greenhouse. It is surprising the locations they are hiding in. We squished in excess of a hundred and that was after last weekend's "de-sluggy/snail" exercise  |
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on May 16, 2007 20:10:41 GMT
well I found a rather sickly looking slug in the GH yesterday...I almost felt sorry for it because it looked soooo ill  ...now I feel guilty for using nemaslug...stupid woman!...anyway I didn't have to squish it because it died in front of me...I'm a murderer..... |
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Post by skarloey on May 16, 2007 20:23:04 GMT
I know EXACTLY what you mean CPB, MIL stood on a snail today and cheered. I felt just awful. Yes I do use advanced slug pellets but I could never squash them. Contradictory?  Yep. |
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Post by Spruance on May 17, 2007 8:34:18 GMT
Have you never heard of recycling Skarloey? If you pop them on the lawn and squish them carefully, Mr & Mrs Blackbird will happily remove the evidence.
Unfortunately this isn't an exact science, and sometimes, said squishing results in the snail becoming part of the lawn! ;D
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Post by Cheerypeabrain on May 17, 2007 14:29:42 GMT
Have you never heard of recycling Skarloey? If you pop them on the lawn and squish them carefully, Mr & Mrs Blackbird will happily remove the evidence. Unfortunately this isn't an exact science, and sometimes, said squishing results in the snail becoming part of the lawn! ;D I've been out today looking through some pots stored behind the GH...they had a few snails in which I knocked out...but I didn't squish them I just live in hope that they get struck by lightning, catch bubonic plague, drink dodgy water, get run over by a train...... |
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...now I feel guilty for using nemaslug...stupid woman!...anyway I didn't have to squish it because it died in front of me...I'm a murderer.....
Yep.