Bran to kill slugs?? (In this months mag)

[blue411]

Has anyone tried this method?
It seems cheap and theyve given it 9 out of 10.
I bought some rolls of the shocka mats at the gardeners world live at the nec and have had some success but not a 9 out of 10 more like a 6 out of 10, i have actually found a slimy slug crawling across one mat approaching my pepper plant! Just wondered if any grapes have tried the bran method and what where the results.At this point im willing to try anything!

[Tracey]

I put some shocka mats around my cabbages, but found the slugs like to shelter under them during the day ready for their midnight feast. I want to try out the bran in my containers, does any one know a cheap place to buy it?

[MaureenHall]

I've heard of this, and oatmeal as well. I've got some packets of "out of date" oatmeal of various grades (fine, medium & coarse) in the cupboard. Should have been used by April 2006. Do you think this'll work too?

[blue411]

What have we got to lose!
I think just some cheap bran/oatmeal from asda or another major supermarket of your choice would be ok, got to be worth a try.

[yorkshire sam]

I have tried the bran method on lettuces, cabbage and dahlias which previously have been decimated by slugs ( and left some without to see if they get hit - and they do) and it does appear to work. Bought a large bag (25KG) from the farm supplies where wifey gets her chicken stuff for around £8. Even with all the stuff I grow and use it on at the lotty I reckon one bag is going to last the season. Will have a much better idea then whether or not it really works.

Let all the grapes know later in the season

Sam

[djhs196]

Same here really - I haven't tried it yet, but following this month's feature I have bought some and it's ready to go. Seeing this post in fact has reminded me that it won't stop slugs if it stays in the bag; I'd best go sort that out!

Cheers!

[zanussi101]

I too have bought some (from holland & barrett 89p for 750g) but haven't got around to using it yet!
apparently it can also be used to liven up tired upholstery by rubbing in with a cloth then brushing off- I'm a bit dubious about that though!

[janto]

what sort of shed you got down lotti zanussi101? i only got a wooden chair

[Demeter]

I would think you can get huge bags of the stuff fairly cheap anywhere that sells animal foods e.g. Countrywide (WMF) or other farm supply places. Would be interested to know if it works - updates in due course please?? If it gets good reviews I might pick up a sack next time I'm getting chicken food.

[Two_Sheds]

I've used bran before (supermarket stuff) and it does seem to work. But it does need reapplying after rain ... perhaps you could rig up some kind of bran trap, like a beer-trap but with a lid to keep the rain off.

[hathor]

I should imagine it works by desiccation - sucking all the moisture out of the little blighters - so I'm not sure they'd be attracted to a pot of the stuff. Presumably it's the beery fumes that gets them into a beer trap.

Best rely on the tempting aroma of your best plants to lure them to their doom.......

[Birdie Wife]

Bran came out tops in the Gardeners World trials a couple of years ago. I tried a bit in my last garden but I found it hard to get hold of enough. Didn't know you could get it in sacks, I might have another look!

[lynda66]

*wonders if oat so simple will work* got given about 300 free sample packs in the cupboard, and they all need to be eaten by october.

[di]

*wonders if oat so simple will work* got given about 300 free sample packs in the cupboard, and they all need to be eaten by october.

Hey that's breakfast/lunch & supper sorted for a couple of months!!
haven't tried the bran but wondering if oatmeal would rot/go mouldy when wet?

[lynda66]

trust me, theres only so many times a day you can eat porridge lol we've already eaten about 200 of them.

mould is a good point, went into sons bedroom the other day, as i thought i'd make his room all tidy and clean for when he gets home ...... he must have had porridge last week before he went on holiday, and hadn't eaten it all, and left the bowl in his room ........ if i'd left it any longer it would have crawled out of his room ...... yukkkkkkkkk

though i would expect bran to go mouldy after it gets wet too.