containers, pots & WD40

[j r hilton]

I have read that if you spray round the top of pots & containers with WD40
it protects the plants inside from slugs and snails because they do not like it and won't cross it. Is this true? Has anyone tried this and if so does it work and how often do you need to respray?

[Polly Fouracre]

I'm about to sow some squash seeds so I'll try that and let you know.

[zazen999]

I've hard it with vaseline, but not WD40.

I might have a try myself; always up for a trial!

[bazzaboy]

THe BBC site recommends WD40 sprayed on pots as a way of protecting hostas from slugs; others I've seen suggest paraffin-based Vaseline smeared on the rim or string soaked in ***** Fluid.... I guess the underlying principle is to make your plot as unattractive to slugs and snails as pos (without making it so smelly that it's unattractive to you ) That's the principle adopted by an interesting article on the blog/list at Welcome to the Gardeners Club
which towards the end has a list of tips (including WD40, beer-traps, copper strips etc, def NOT pellets) as part of an overall approach to discouraging 'em. No magic cure, impossible to eradicate, but they can be significantly reduced. One new (to me) tip that I've adopted, for example, is NOT watering at night (end of an age-old tradition?) because there's nothing they like more than dark an' very wet.... I've yet to be tidier, I'm afraid....

bb.

ps on WD40 re-spraying.... just once a season is what I read (somewhere...) but they were probably thinking of earthenware pots. WD40 is pretty tenacious stuff and repels water but maybe glazed/plastic pots would need a couple of applications. But not daily or weekly, just occasionally as part of a general discouragement regime. Good luck, hope it works for you, please don't repel 'em in my direction!

=

[mrs dog]

I've used vasalin for years and can assure you that that works. However I've always said that WD40 is a girls best friend so it wouldn't surprise me if it does work. I'm going to try it and see.

[dexterdoglancashire]

I've used vasalin for years and can assure you that that works. However I've always said that WD40 is a girls best friend so it wouldn't surprise me if it does work. I'm going to try it and see.

WD40 is my answer to anything, and everything if it doesnt work! (It's a woman thing guys!) So will pinch the can out of the garage and give it a go.....if not, out with the vasaline! Bernie aka DDL