Best way to kill slugs and snails?

[unclefudgly]

Right now then..

The time has come to plan my war on this years hordes of slugs and snails. I have tried nemaslug with some success but far too expensive to use often I think. Also tried the little blue pellets, not the organic ones I'm afraid, and these do seem to work well, but would like to know if the more expensive ferramol based pellets are just as good or better?

Any other tips greatly appreciated

[Alison]

I don't like using any of the slug pellets as none of them are great with wildlife. I too use nematodes occasionally and wince at the price. I find that the best way of doing things is to encourage the likes of frogs on my site by the use of a wildlife pond, grow most things to a reasonable size at home in modules by which time they're big enough to see the slimy things off a bit and also squash as many as possible whenever I see them. Usually shove a hand fork spoke through them then throw them to next door's chickens.

[Chocolate8me]

Our garden has tonnes of slugs & snails, dreading fighting them off my veg myself but we also have a pond with froggies so fingers crossed that helps (only been in the house 4 months).

I've built a raised bed which has stones all around so I'm hoping that will help keep them away.

If anyone tells you crushed eggshells may help, it didn't when I tried that method when the buggers ate my marigolds.

Small cups of beer are supposed to help as they love beer.

Anything is worth a try.

[binley100]

Venture out at night with a head torch , bucket of salty water and something to spear them with ......and the next night, and the next night and so on .........

[Potstubsdustbins]

Suppose I am lucky my rear garden plot is enclosed. The house on one side and fencing on the other three and none of my food plants near the edges. For some years now I have used a scattering of blue pellets to protect the 3 boarders whilst fighting the war on my patch. Last two years have seen quite a drop in the amount of slug/snail siteings and damage.

Colin

[binley100]

At home I chuck snails on the garage roof for the birds .........

[Aberdeenplotter]

corrugated iron on a hot summers day gives the birds a hot cooked treat

[binley100]

and if they hit the roof hard enough they come ready shelled for them

[salome2001]

when we moved here last summer I was astounded at the size of the blasted things - easily 4-5 inches long. I can see why Nemaslug was developed by a Bristolian company.
While I haven't been growing stuff in dirt here yet, i did find that the slug numbers seemed to diminish after I used Nemaslug on the lawn. Also copper tape around the veg in pots kept the blighters out of those (not the snails, sadly, but I suspect they were paratrooping in off the adjacent fence)
I plan on using the Nemaslug again on the plot (raised beds so can target there), as well as beer traps (apparently stout works best), the organic slug pellets, and a small boy with half a brick...

[salome2001]

ooh forgot... lottie neighbour is putting her chickens on the plot so I might toss a good number that way too

[singleseeder]

An old boy used to visit his plot after rain with a pair of scissors..........

[chris]

I have a pair of "slug scissors" that are used to snip them in half. I go out with a head torch on after dark and snip any I find. Snails, I tend to throw up high over my back wall and listen to them smash on the road (obviously there are no cars driving past...) or I stand on them.

I have used the blue organic pellets with some success, but the scissors work better for me and fit in with my organic-as-possible methods I had a major battle with slugs/snails and a newly planted globe artichoke last year.. I was out every night of the week snipping them off it.

[VirginVegGrower]

corrugated iron on a hot summers day gives the birds a hot cooked treat

Are zeese birds Francais?

[VirginVegGrower]

I have a pair of "slug scissors" that are used to snip them in half. I go out with a head torch on after dark and snip any I find. Snails, I tend to throw up high over my back wall and listen to them smash on the road (obviously there are no cars driving past...) or I stand on them

I bet you were a very naughty child!

I suggest using a hammer

The lady on the plot next to me swears by cheap Tesco bitter in cans, pushed into her soil. When the can is full of them (gag...wrench....gag) she dumps it in a bin and puts another in it's place!

[Two_Sheds]

we also have a pond with froggies

Frogs prefer worms to slugs, sorry

cups of beer are supposed to help as they love beer.

cups of beer also drown spiders & other beneficials: if you do use them, pop some twigs in so the good guys can climb back out

when we moved here last summer I was astounded at the size of the blasted things - easily 4-5 inches long

It's the small ones that do the most damage to crops, apparently

RHS slug advice

I use "hotels" on the lotty: just a piece of old wood which I leave on the ground. The slugs kindly congregate underneath during the day, then I throw them to the chickens

At home I do the torch patrol, with Marigolds and a bucket of salty water. Pick them up, drop them in