Slugs and Snails...

[Winky]

I have seen many threads on the vine about slug traps and have possibly missed the answer to my question, so please hear me out and point me in the right direction if so....
I've made a slug trap, but it's not catching any of the little blighters, could someone put me out of my misery and provide a "Dummy's Guide to Slug Traps" please. The sort of thing I haven't figured out is how deep does the yoghurt pot get put in the ground, is it at soil level? How much beer/lager do you put in the pot, to the top? Does the cover have to be nearly the same size as the pot or can it be much larger? I know I'm being dense but would appreciate any advice please.
I can happily step on snails and these mysteriously get eaten by something, but slugs I cannot under any circumstances do
Help! Please!

[spiderpig]

i've only used these for the first time this year and i've left them proud of the soil,at least a couple of inches in my case.it stops other things crawling in and drowning for one thing.slugs are very good at climbing,so don't worry that they won't get to the beer.the downside of using the traps is the need to regularly clean them out and refill with beer.if you don't the slugs dissolve into slimy gunk. good luck winky!

[squashysu]

Hi Marion

I put mine into the ground and used ice cream tubs as these catch snails as well! mine are flush to the soil and then i put another ice cream tub over the top with holes cut out of the sides, they are working really well so far as i have trapped hundreds of the little buggers so far!!

I change my beer every week and i fill it half way up, they love the stuff!

Mind you, i still go out every eve with the torch and gather up the others and crunch them down!!

SS

[Winky]

Thanks both for your replies, I can see that I'll have to initiate bedtime walkies as well as the traps.
Just noticed this morning the little b**gers have demolished my runner beans down to the ground No more squeamishness about the slugs, gonna be brave I just declared war, eew yuk!

[trebellangeminired]

I designate 1 pair of marigolds, arm myself with milk carton containing some beer, set off into garden with headlamp or torch, pop little blighters in carton, lid on, shake, leave till morning, put out for grateful birds. No unpleasant squidging or crunching and I get a warm, fuzzy glow from providing a meal for our feathered friends. Marinated meat does not seem to harm the birds but I suppose you could drown the pests in plain water.

[Winky]

I'm off to get some beer and will be out there tonight with my marigolds, torch and container. *see me posting notice on bird bar "marinated slugs for breakfast"*

[SlugLobber]

Marigolds, eh? Am I the only one to go out with nekkid hands? I think I'm just so mad at the buggers I go in without thinking. Got some nice dirt under my nails right now, come to think of it!

[peanut]

I've just read here: Slugs (link orignally provided by Mikeywillis) that you can use milk traps instead of beer......anyone tried this?

[trebellangeminired]

Marigolds, eh? Am I the only one to go out with nekkid hands? I think I'm just so mad at the buggers I go in without thinking. Got some nice dirt under my nails right now, come to think of it!

I really can't stand the feeling of the slime on my hands, I am ashamed

[SlugLobber]

I have to say, on Saturday, I picked some up and was nearly sick. One was extra slimy and the slime would NOT come off! In the end I used kitchen roll, but I was soooo nearly sick doing it! Revenge for me killing their siblings, I suppose!

[bobbin]

slug pellets.

Having seen the slug damage on my lottie I am so tempted to use pellets but even the "organic ones seem to have a question mark over them as to their effect on birds and good insects. No one will say on their boxes 100% ok with all insects and birds.Their seems to be a question mark always present.I don't use anything on my plot so it seems a cheat.What do others think?

[squashysu]

i think they should be ok, i am not using them but only have my garden to deal with, in fact i am off now with the torch and gloves to collect them and put them in my salt box (there are already in excess of 70 in there! and thats just two nights of snail hunts) must be about 40 slugs as well!

Hi ho, hi ho, its off to kills slugs i go!!! la la la la, la la la la, hi ho, hi ho!!

ha ha !

SS