organic slug pellets

[LittleShamrock]

Good thread, I need rid of the slimies too! I have heard that sheep's wool pellets are a barrier to slugs, does anyone here have experience of this? As a knitter and spinner, I have plenty of unspun sheeps wool lying around, is it likely to keep slugs away from the plants if I was to lay it down over the soil surface (in pots)? Although come to think of it, I put wool in the compost bin and it probably doesn't bother the slugs in there...

[pipscariad]

LittleShamrock, the product that uses sheeps wool is called Slug Buggers and is pelleted wool as you say - I'm not sure how you could imitate this if you wanted to do it yourself, I suspect the wool would have to somehow be chopped up into tiny fibres? I'm sure someone on here will have used the pellets (oh, search facility where are you when we need you?!) so can give you more info, but I haven't tried them so can't say.

I can really recommend the bran though - I bought a huge sack from our local farmstores for about £6 and put it down in various places where it would remain dry (under the rhubarb was brilliant for this!) and also in circles around bigger plants such as courgettes. I had read conflicting advice that it actually attracted more slugs, but I didn't feel it did.

Good luck with whatever you try. I think there is no such thing as a foolproof slug deterrant, different things seem to work for different people and it's just a case of try it and see!

[roitelet]

This year I have used a wood chip mulch on the flower beds. It is really rough and spikey and it seems to be keeping the slugs off. On the vegies I use straw and put a few pellets down before the straw. Works a treat!

[stavroslinni]

All the ones I've seen (which look pretty much the same, just different packaging) seem to contain Ferramol, and on the packaging say 'suitable' for organic gardening.

They also mention that as long as you use them within the guidelines (5g/m^2) then they're safe for wildlife. To me that doesn't seem very 'organic' ? Which do you use?

The Organic Gardening Catalogue was the one I was looking at.

I've also seen that Vitax do a 'Slug Off' which is a 100% organic product, used as a barrier (5cm wide & 2/3 pellets high). Both are priced the same..

Edit, Vitax's stuff can also be used as a mulch, or growing medium. After it's done with it can be dug into the soil to improve he structure.. When reapplying the slug pellets above, do you need to pick up any ones that has been down a while?

Does anybody know where I can buy this apart from online which adds £4/£5 postage to the total price ??

[Polly Fouracre]

I support the bran method too, also beer traps, but the best method of all is ducks!

[Snadger]

I support the bran method too, also beer traps, but the best method of all is ducks!

Or frogs! Must admit, since my pond has become established, I never seem to be bothered with slugs!

[Two_Sheds]

Here's a great slug article I wanted to share with you all: Slugs

[FionaH]

Does anybody know where I can buy this apart from online which adds £4/£5 postage to the total price ??

Garden centres stock it, ours does but thats a way off for you

[BroadRipple]

is anyone else completely addicted to Slug Patrol? I go out at night, sometimes VERY late, sometimes slightly wobbly after a party or occasionally if we have people round (I know this makes me sound like a loon)...with my big specially-bought torch...and I round them up. It's partly that it's a good way to get rid of them, but I really am addicted to it...thinking of excuses every night to 'just have a quick check' and pretending I don't really want to, but heh hey I DO...

[Arthur Pounder]

Here's a great slug article I wanted to share with you all: Slugs

Have you tried any of the three Pentland varieties they mention as High Resistance? I tried Maris Piper this year which concurs with their findings, as virtually every one had slug damage.