We are now officially at DefCon One

[Two_Sheds]

nematodes ... Do they harm any other wildlife or crops....other than affecting the availability of food for the (at least) 3 frogs in our tiny suburban garden ?

Nematodes are pretty species specific aren't they? Slug nematodes parasitise slugs, roundworm (Toxocara canis and Toxascaris leonina) nematodes infest dogs & cats.

The old 'grounds' deter slugs and snails

It doesn't work here. I heap a moat of grounds round my hostas, and they're still like lace

The old beer in a jam jar trick disposes of loads of them !
Jimmy

But that also kills good guys like spiders & ground beetles, and bees, unless you put twigs in the jar

[snuffer]

Today I have also deployed my army against the slugs. 60 million nematodes. Other people on the lotties thought I'd gone insane and was watering the veg. even after all the rain we've been getting. Had to keep stopping to explain what I was up to.

[Jimmy]

But that also kills good guys like spiders & ground beetles, and bees, unless you put twigs in the jar

Twigs sound good. Plus normally sink jars in ground and cover with a slate on some stones to raise it a bit. Stops rain and possibly bees.

[Two_Sheds]

I did a torchlit as-SALT on them last night: I found and seasoned 1055 of them: all sizes & colours, snails too. There were slugs up the walls, up on windows, and about a dozen on every one of my newly planted dahlias

[GardenFaery]

I've said it before, but I'll say it again FFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFFF.......

Frogs!

'Reptiles and amphibians may not be overwhelmingly popular, but they will do no harm to you or to your plants and include several slug eaters. Frogs are the best, the most common and the most easily encouraged. They prefer damp sites where slugs abound and hunt by ambushing anything edible that passes. A quarter of their diet frequently comprises slugs. Toads and slow worms eat slugs too and can be helpful in drier parts of the garden, particularly rockeries.'

' but when they are active they will feed on any moving invertebrates of a suitable size, such as insects, snails, slugs and worms, which they catch with their long, sticky tongues. Adult frogs feed entirely on land, ( so they jump happily around eating all your slugs and snails! )whereas younger frogs will also feed in the water.'

For those of you at your wits end due to slugs watch these lovely boys treating them like convenient snacks! watch this!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yL9LLkGC7tg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BO7brhSPiaY

[treepixie]

This year i am trying the garlic wash on my hosta's it seems to be working so far, i have had no slug/snail damage, so i am also spraying the veg patch , again seems to be working, so fingers crossed.

Or they could just be hiding and waiting until i run out of garlic.

[nellie72]

They've even colonised my compost bin, the little blighters!!! Barbecue tongs and a bucket of salted water are on permanent standby by the back door, along with various beer traps in the beds. Does anyone know if i will have to dump my compost & start again? I'm removing about two dozen a day, and I'm worried about using the compost if it might be full of baby blighters :-(

[Samurailord]

After treating with nematodes I have very few slugs left, but the main damage seems to have been caused by snails, and I still have quite a few of them around.

Anyone know what a snail's natural enemies are, I believe that frogs and toads don't touch them?

Andy