Solved the slug problem

[Digger-07]

For the past 2 or 3 years I have had slugs and snails in the GH, the snials seem to come in for the winter and hide everywhere.

Well this year I have not one of the little blighters.

My solution - Dog Hair.

My two dogs need stripping (technical term for dealing with spaniels) every 2 or 3 months so I thought I would put the hair round the inside of the walls. It forms a sort of hairy mulch that lasts (at least 9 months so far) and I keep adding to it.

It been so successful I think I might patent the idea and make loads of money. Definately organic, not exactly green more black and golden, great for recycling and I suppose it will do the garden good in the long run too

[SueA]

That sounds brilliant Digger, how does it work?Is it that the hairs stick to the snails' mucus & they can't get out of it, does it dry them up like oatbran does or do they not like the smell? I'll have to get a dog again although the boxer we had didn't have much hair to speak of.Would it work with cat hair do you think?

[Mrs Dobby]

Its supposed to work with any animal hair, its something about the grease on the hair reacting with them and putting them off from crossing it I think!

[Digger-07]

Are you saying my dogs are greasy Mrs D?

I don't think it's grease because they are bathed before I trim them (the dogs not the slugs). I think it must be that the hair is not a firm base for them to travel over (the slugs not the dogs). The hair may stick to them but I havn't seen any trails so that seems unlikely. I don't think they get far enough onto the hair before they decide to turn back so it must be a touch thing.

[Alison]

Having just picked up our cats from their week at the cattery, they are now moulting half their own body weight so may try it with cat hair, assume this would also work?

[Mrs Dobby]

Lol Digger! No, I wasnt implying that your dogs have a hygiene problem, but was remembering something on a Garden Tips DVD I got as part of my MOM pack, he said that putting hair round the base of the plants stops the slugs, I thought he mentioned something about the natural oils or grease being what stopped the slugs, but I could be wrong, sorry if I offended!

[Digger-07]

If I were offended by things that were said on the vine I would have left a long time ago.

My tyke sense of humour is a bit strange though.

[jools]

This is a bit late for me. Have one spaniel, have one greenhouse. It took only the one snail in the one greenhouse on one evening to totally wipe out the three seedlings I managed to grow from one very expensive packet of seeds -some fancy type of delphinium. If I had thought of feeding the one snail to my one spaniel, I would....but stamped on the bl**dy thing instead!
Jools

[Snadger]

Lucky slugs!! First they get some beer to drink, and then you give them a 'hair of the dog'!!!

[shirlthegirl43]

Very interesting this - would human hair have the same effect do you think? My neighbour is a hairdresser so I shouldn't have any trouble getting a good supply.

[Digger-07]

I don't waste beer on slugs Snadger.

Lucky slugs!! First they get some beer to drink, and then you give them a 'hair of the dog'!!!

[Dobby]

a Garden Tips DVD I got as part of my MOM pack, he said that putting hair round the base of the plants stops the slugs, I thought he mentioned something about the natural oils or grease being what stopped the slugs, but I could be wrong, sorry if I offended!

He siad horse hire it burns them you can watch them frazel sounds good to me

[Nicos]

I understand that human hair does work too as someone else has mentioned this a while ago. Must be worth a trip to the hairdressers?? ( don't fancy someone elses cast off body parts though!!! )