copper versus slugs

[nemo]

i am cutting up an old copper water tank to make copper rings to protect each individual plant . am i wasting my time as an old gardener informed me today . copper rings are in the most of the gardening catalogues here in ireland . am i wasting my time or will copper bands work .
copper is supposed to hold a slight electrical charge and the slugs will not clime over the copper rings or is this only a gimmick please enlighten me

[jeannine]

Sounds like a great idea! Copper rings definitely work, and they're not cheap in the catalogues. The only thing you do have to look out for is that slugs and snails can climb up on other plants and use them as a bridge to get to the stuff you're protecting, so make sure they can't do that.

[hawthorns]

i use any scrap copper i can get my hands on and hammer it to the shape of the top of my raised beds then nail it on

[crichmond]

I use copper wire around my pots, old electrical wire stripped and then wrapped around the pots and held in plce either by glue gun or araldite or making a small hole in the pot to shove it through, recycled and it works.

Cheers Chris

[lumpyjumper]

I wrapped it around my raised beds last year and it worked really well, until the little blighters used the buddleiah to parachute in or the rhubarb leaves to avoid the copper....this year I'm wiser to it and they will be thwarted!!

<She cackles ominously>

[vegnut]

I'm keeping my eyes open for any old thin copper pipe this year. i'm gonna nail it to the top of my raised beds. That should stop em dead

[nemo]

copper versus slugs

thanks everyone i am going in the right direction . now i must tell the old fella and he wont like it very much

[HeyWayne]

I don't know what its' like over in Ireland, but here we have an increasing problem with scrap metal theft, and copper is high on their shopping lists. Theives have even started pretending that they are utilities companies, pulling up in a van with hi-vis jackets on, and digging up phone lines.

Some recent raids uncovered organised groups with large hoards of various metals including lead from church roofs, manhole covers etc.

Guard them copper rings carefully!

[moggssue]

Copper rings definitely worked brilliantly for me last year, so I'll be doing it again this year - making sure there are no overhanging leaves etc as has already been mentioned

[gardenplot]

Copper rings definitely work, wish i could get hold of some cheep

[gardenplot]

I just go on a slug and snail trail in the evening when there out & about collect them up in a tub and pore salt on them

[snake the squadie]

try cheap beer instead that works

[HeyWayne]

Does anyone else get a newspaper headline in their mind when they see this thread on the list?

I keep expecting to read a story where slugs have complained about police brutality....

"Copper slugs slug in brutal attack" or some such waffle.

Sgt Phil Maboot quoted as saying "Sid D. Slug was clearly under the influence of some cheap ale which had been purchased for him, and was seen causing distruction to a neighbouring plotterty, I was left with no choice but to arrest the perpitrator..."

I'm going for a lie down now.

[snake the squadie]

mate i am more than happy with that

[gardenplot]

Does anyone else get a newspaper headline in their mind when they see this thread on the list?

I keep expecting to read a story where slugs have complained about police brutality....

"Copper slugs slug in brutal attack" or some such waffle.

Sgt Phil Maboot quoted as saying "Sid D. Slug was clearly under the influence of some cheap ale which had been purchased for him, and was seen causing distruction to a neighbouring plotterty, I was left with no choice but to arrest the perpitrator..."

I'm going for a lie down now.

oh that is a beauty