Nemaslug!

[marninator80]

Nightmare with the slugs again this year...the carrot seedlings have disappeared, runner beans show evidence of chomping after less then 24hrs and the flowers planted in my kids garden area have been pretty much decimated!!
Have heard about nematodes and was wondering on anyone's thoughts/experiences with using this method? Has it been as successful as the adverts say it is?

[Penellype]

Nematodes are a useful weapon to have and they will help, but they will not eradicate every slug. You can make a big difference with them but you need to be aware of their limitations. They need moist soil and temperatures above 5 degrees, and they need some slugs to be present otherwise they will die. They kill slugs in the soil, but not snails.

This means that you can find (like I have this year) that you order them when the forecast says the temperatures are going to be ok, and by the time they arrive you find its forecast to be cold. As they have a limited lifespan during which they have to be applied, you can get caught out having to apply them in unsuitable weather. If it is very dry you will need to keep watering frequently. If there is a deluge they may be washed away. They will also need applying every couple of months if the weather is slug friendly.

I use them regularly twice a year, although I may need to make that 3 times this year because of the wet spring and the frost that occurred a couple of nights after I applied them. Used alongside other things like copper tape on pots, beer traps and bricks or pieces of wood etc left lying about for slugs to hide under so you can catch them, and removing any that you see, nematodes do a useful job.

[SarrissUK]

I love them - I use them twice a year, and I'm actually slacking a bit with buying them, and I can tell. My french and green beans have been decimated.

I'm buying them at Gardener's World as they sell them cheaper there and I buy big packs so I can soak the whole garden

[marninator80]

Nematodes are a useful weapon to have and they will help, but they will not eradicate every slug. You can make a big difference with them but you need to be aware of their limitations. They need moist soil and temperatures above 5 degrees, and they need some slugs to be present otherwise they will die. They kill slugs in the soil, but not snails.

This means that you can find (like I have this year) that you order them when the forecast says the temperatures are going to be ok, and by the time they arrive you find its forecast to be cold. As they have a limited lifespan during which they have to be applied, you can get caught out having to apply them in unsuitable weather. If it is very dry you will need to keep watering frequently. If there is a deluge they may be washed away. They will also need applying every couple of months if the weather is slug friendly.

I use them regularly twice a year, although I may need to make that 3 times this year because of the wet spring and the frost that occurred a couple of nights after I applied them. Used alongside other things like copper tape on pots, beer traps and bricks or pieces of wood etc left lying about for slugs to hide under so you can catch them, and removing any that you see, nematodes do a useful job.

Thanks for all the info, I need all the help I can get

[marninator80]

I love them - I use them twice a year, and I'm actually slacking a bit with buying them, and I can tell. My french and green beans have been decimated.

I'm buying them at Gardener's World as they sell them cheaper there and I buy big packs so I can soak the whole garden

Great I will check Gardener's World...been trying to find the cheapest around!

[chasingmytail]

Big fan

Yes I did some research and got two boxes at £11 each which seems to be the going rate. With the weather we've been having keeping dampness in the soil hasnt been a problem and hence the reason why we need it. For next year I will be automatically be ordering it for May. I didnt want to spend too much time relying on beer or copper as its not efficient enough.

[GBax]

Slugs seem to be really bad this year - Sunflowers worst hit for me
I have been round a few times on the dampest most 'sluggy' evenings' with a headtorch and a pair of chopstick and been removing them.
Its quite satisfying when you see your handiwork and it seems to be working for me.

[SarrissUK]

Great I will check Gardener's World...been trying to find the cheapest around!

Sorry, I meant Gardeners' world live in Birmingham in a month's time! Not the magazine

[SarrissUK]

And I go out picking them too, and put them in a tub for my chickens (who are usually fast asleep by the time I go out picking slugs). I never found anything else to work really.

You can make your own nematodes for slugs, ironically from slugs themselves. There have been plenty of discussions about it on this forum. Personally I can't stand the thought!

[marninator80]

I love them - I use them twice a year, and I'm actually slacking a bit with buying them, and I can tell. My french and green beans have been decimated.

I'm buying them at Gardener's World as they sell them cheaper there and I buy big packs so I can soak the whole garden

Do you have a link to this deal as can't seem to find it?! Thanks

[marninator80]

Sorry just seen the previous comments. Lol

[SarrissUK]

LOL Sorry, it dawned on me that I wasn't very clear LOL They have had a stand the two years I've visited the show, and they have one again this year. They sell it at rebated prices, but I can't recall exactly what they cost two years ago.

[Florence Fennel]

I've used them before and found it a bit hit and miss, like all the other deterrents I'm afraid. Good luck with it anyway

[marninator80]

Thanks everyone! I think it's going to take a combination of methods

[maverick451]

I find that what works for me is a combination of late patrols and beer traps to get any I missed

Ive put on nemaslug about 2 weeks ago so hopefully that will also help