Slugs and Snail control

This year there is set to be yet another plague of slugs and snails. The weather conditions are somewhat to blame for the huge increase in the last two years. But this is only one factor in the reason for the continuing population boom of the gardeners worst enemy.To further misery to traditional gardeners, slug pellets will inevitably be banned fairly soon. The damage they cause to other fauna is just too great. After the anti EU headlines have abated after the ban, it will be time to install the new measures to combat the menace of the gastropod.The biggest problem is that the 'traditional' method of control has had a 'catch 22' effect, whilst killing the slugs and snails effectively it also led to a decline in the predators of these animals. The second major factor is the UK's passion for keeping cats. A Basque 'soils' man who was working with the CSL group last year was astounded by the size of the UK cat population and directly blamed them for our slug and snail problem. He was adamant, (although I doubt this is backed up by any academic research), that as the Basque people had to resort to eating all their cats during the Spanish Civil War the population of cats is minimal and as such the traditional predators of slugs and snails, namely, Bird's particularly Thrush, Slow Worms, Hedgehogs and Toads are common and will keep the gastropods under control.I would not dare to utter that there needs to be a cat cull in the UK, to satisfy horticulture, as I do not wish a lynch mob out to get me.Living in France it is very evident that there is little problems with slugs and snails, (whilst the common guess at this would be that they eat them - this is not true, where I am at least). The cat population is lower here, but I don't think this is the answer too.The French are brilliant at 'sustainable' gardening, there is no altruism to it, they are certainly not all green minded either. It simply makes sense and costs nothing. As such around most of the vegetable plots and in 'Potager' gardens, they have an arsenal of little habitats constructed into gardens to make suitable homes for the predators they need to encourage.Toads are treated with reverence here, rightly so, their ability to significantly reduce a population of slugs is fantastic. As such holes dug into the ground at a slight angle can be found everywhere. The walls of these holes are usually old slates and in some cases I have seen sections of concrete drainage about 500mm long just inserted into the ground with a loose flat stone on top. These little burrows can house up to 5 or 6 large toads at a time.Dry stone walls or habitat piles are deliberately constructed to allow for habitats, slow worms are very common and are voracious predators on both slugs and snails. A collapsed section of wall I have seen near here actually has small chambers carefully built into the bottom. The entrances are built to encourage hedgehogs. We regularly build walls in Cornwall to incorporate habitats for bats and birds but have never done anything at the bottom. We will now.The use of loose gravel dust, (crushed down), is the main product used on paths and surfacing in gardens in France. I have been told that in Potager gardens this is done to discourage slugs and snails, Many of the foliage plants are grown up and through this material and the resulting crop is untouched.Crushed garlic is also used, left for a few days in water and sprinkled around the important plants absolutely guarantees their protection. I have used the 'garlic barrier' product in the UK and have found it fairly effective, although unfortunately it is not for the part time gardener, as you have to top up regularly due to the rain and it will make even the most precious crops financially unviable.The last trick I know actually comes from Argyll, Scotland there I have met an old boy gardener who used to spread large quantities of river silt around the plot, he said it encouraged birds to come and peck through the soil thus disparaging slug and snail colonisation. However it did work it definately worked.www.paysagedurable.com

I can take it, in hindsight difficult subject matter to raise on site full of horticulturalists. And indeed a highly emotive one. The real financial costs of the increasing slug population is huge and set to get worse. Between July 06 and July 07 slugs rose from an estimated average 35 per square metre to 61.

There is very little alternative to the metaldehyde slug pellet, but since traces have been found in drinking water a ban is just on the horizon. The Iron and Aluminium alternatives are just as bad, particularly in the UK, as they are catastrophic for aquatic fauna and as such should not be used outdoors.

The problem in Scandinavia is so bad that the Norwegian government is offering a 10000 krone reward for the best way of eradicating them and in Sweden there are calls for the 'unemployed to be mobilised' to help reduce numbers.

Answers on a postcard

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Comments

pete March 9, 2009 at 9:15pm

Such a lot of people these days, seem to be alienated from the nature in their gardens. Surely it's as plain as the nose on your face that using slug pellets can't work and you'll only end up with more of them. The manufacturers are probably the same folk who told us Magpies go round beating up smaller birds! (sorry Pip, that wasn't meant to be as brutal as it sounds)
Pip Howard March 9, 2009 at 10:39pm

I can take it, in hindsight difficult subject matter to raise on site full of horticulturalists. And indeed a highly emotive one. The real financial costs of the increasing slug population is huge and set to get worse. Between July 06 and July 07 slugs rose from an estimated average 35 per square metre to 61.

There is very little alternative to the metaldehyde slug pellet, but since traces have been found in drinking water a ban is just on the horizon. The Iron and Aluminium alternatives are just as bad, particularly in the UK, as they are catastrophic for aquatic fauna and as such should not be used outdoors.

The problem in Scandinavia is so bad that the Norwegian government is offering a 10000 krone reward for the best way of eradicating them and in Sweden there are calls for the 'unemployed to be mobilised' to help reduce numbers.

Answers on a postcard
Ofer El-hashahar March 10, 2009 at 10:58pm

Hi Pip,
I was demonstrating Lawn edging in the Bbc Gardeners world show when someone said it is great idea to create a barrier with that and to put a bit of Vaseline on the top to prevent slugs from coming into the veg area. on the same idea the raised bed that I provide can have a bit of that on the top.
Great to know you

Back in Israel it was not a big issue but the retailer had few things one of the was a spray based on garlic, another was based on some trees seeds ( can not remember now).
Kernewek Gardens March 12, 2009 at 4:03pm

i am about to add the nemetode worm to my yard veg patch, aparently they are natural parasites that live on slugs and snails, burrowing into them to lay their eggs, which then hatch and have a good feed on their host! theyre not harmful to other preditors either. i'll let you all know how i get on, it couldnt be as bad as last year, when i lost all my beans and peas.
having kids around is another of my natural techniques, my son loves to stamp on their "tails" and watch the other end fly off! he is 7, so only a natural fascination for him.
Sustainable Land Management March 12, 2009 at 8:33pm

Your son could make a lot of money working for the norwegian government. personally find a good old slug hunt on a balmy evening with your wife, girlfriend or potential girlfriend can't be beaten, what can be better romance and a jar full of slugs.
Once visited a friends garden in a damp corner of the county and the garden was rampant with the carnivorous species of slug, but the plants were untouched, creepy and watching these monsters stalk their plant loving cousins was like watching a horror movie. Perhaps he should start selling them.
The old beer trap is still a favourite and really does work well.
Be really interesting to hear the results of the nematode worm introduction
Kernewek Gardens March 13, 2009 at 9:18am

will keep you all posted
Helen Nock July 22, 2009 at 9:10am

Really interesting and enjoyable topic! I can hardly find a foot hold in my garden on a warm wet night. Iv'e gradually filled the garden with plants they're not very interested in and protect veg and tasty border annuals with barriers of old copper pipe and coal ash from the forge. Interesting to read about the cat impact, we have loads round here. My mother collects slugs and snails every night in old yogurt pots. She can't bear to squish them and re-homes every morning in adjacent park land, rather wild and unkempt and full of predators.
I will try the crushed garlic spray but give the romantic hunt the go by. Holland and Barret sell snail mucous preparation for beauty treatment.!!!!
Pip Howard July 22, 2009 at 5:34pm

Another method I've not tried personally and I am told will also work is (if you happen to have a dog or I guess cats as well), use the waste from hoovering or sweeping and spread around base of plants?.
Helen Nock July 23, 2009 at 12:01am

They don't like anything that bungs up their foot. I've tried all sorts of home-spun ground barriers but if it's wet enough they'll skate over it. looked at the site products much neater than copper pipe fences for sure. Copper does work, I think wet contact produces electrical charge. Sometimes I find them stunned and lolling about. Not 100% but best method to protect whole patches I found so far. Looks too much of an eyesore to promote in the induisrty tho. I have large hand pressure pump. Like the idea of garlic spray - convenient and fast when inspecting the estate. Will feedback results.
Felicity Waters May 6, 2010 at 10:49pm

hey Helen - the copper can look quite good - my next door neighbour did this

i reakon there is a funky copper design planter thingy waiting to be designed - i will check out christina's recommendation