Snails

[jeannine]

You star! thanks for that Protea, will look in to it...

[Paul Wagland]

Salt is a naturally occurring mineral, vital to the mammalian metabolism, yet I wouldn't want to eat it in large concentrations. Neither would I want to throw it all over my garden.

Your research mentions that the pellets include 'bait' Protea; as I said before this will actively attract slugs onto your plot / garden. I also notice the 'Voluntary Initiative' was proposed by the pesticide industry to avoid an impending government-imposed 'pesticide tax'. Not exactly independent.

What's wrong with building a wildlife pond and a log pile? In ten years of gardening, three gardens and four allotments, I've never had a problem I couldn't fix without resorting to pesticides.

[Protea]

Salt is a naturally occurring mineral, vital to the mammalian metabolism, yet I wouldn't want to eat it in large concentrations. Neither would I want to throw it all over my garden.

Your research mentions that the pellets include 'bait' Protea; as I said before this will actively attract slugs onto your plot / garden. I also notice the 'Voluntary Initiative' was proposed by the pesticide industry to avoid an impending government-imposed 'pesticide tax'. Not exactly independent.

What's wrong with building a wildlife pond and a log pile? In ten years of gardening, three gardens and four allotments, I've never had a problem I couldn't fix without resorting to pesticides.

Don't get me wrong Paul, i am in no way saying that these are the best way to control slugs! i wholeheartedly agree that using natural methods of pest control such as you describe are the ideal.

But with all things, its striking a balance that matters. As i think others on this thread have said they've tried all the usual ways to control slugs, but to limited or sometimes no avail. In these circumstances i would rather gardeners used the least risky methods of control, firstly, i would advocate the use of nematodes over pellets anyway, but ferric phosphate does have its uses and imo is a far better alternative to the metaldehyde or methiocarb pellets also available which can have devastating effects on wildlife.

I'm not an organic gardener in the strict 'organic' sense, but i try to garden naturally and where the pests/diseases are overwhelming the natural order i do resort to chemical methods, but i always start with the least risky options first, natural predators, natural plant extracts, barriers etc. before reaching for the synthetic potion (and this is only on very rare occasions). Each to their own, but i thought it was fair that there was a balanced argument on the use of organic slug pellets.

[gardenplot]

I think all slugs and snails are nasty little things that make a mess and eat what they can, i try do a slug & snail trail to catch as many as i can and i will also use the Nemaslug Slug Killer works out expensive but cheep in the long run cos I get to enjoy my crop.

[snake the squadie]

i know this sounds daft but i went for ignore them and they will go away aproach and it sort of work apart from my brussels which were destroyed

[gardenplot]

poor brussels get them nasty snails & slugs back fight for you sprouts.

[snake the squadie]

i think it was a sort of compamise. they can have the brussels if they leave every thing else alone. i am planting extra brussels this year

[gardenplot]

Don’t you like your sprouts, their supposed to make you big and strong?
Eat your greens my mum used to tell us when we were kids if you want to grow up strong

[snake the squadie]

i love sprouts cos you know its christmas when you have sprouts

[gardenplot]

Oh yes loads of pressies if you eat all your sprouts.

[snake the squadie]

that didnt happen this year

[gardenplot]

you had a late christmas " did santa forget to leave your pressies

[snake the squadie]

no no he was just er erm busy yes thats right he was busy

[gardenplot]

busy doing what, had you been a bad boy this year

[snake the squadie]

no i am a good boy me