slug barrier

[rary]

I intend replacing the wood for my raised bed and will be running copper tape round the lowest board, would it be it be worth while securing two strands of copper wire to the edge touching the ground

[snakeshack]

If you can get it the wire will be cheaper than the tape and should render the tape unnecessary . For extra zing you can wire to an old 9v battery, and attach to the two wires .the slug completes the circuit and as long as the wires are close but not touching the battery will last about a year.thi will only affect slugs ,snails and soft damp animals like worms but leaves insects and Arachnids unharmed .


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[rary]

If you can get it the wire will be cheaper than the tape and should render the tape unnecessary .

Thanks Snakeshack just to let you know that I picked up two packs of tape 4m. long from Aldies for a fiver and to me that was good value as a local garden center was looking for £6 odds one 4m pack

[snakeshack]

I work as a telephone engineer and just strip wire out of scrap cable and staple it onto the raised beds . Only problem is knowing whether there are slugs there at the time ( fussing there always are)


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[pulse]

I would be interested to know how effective you find using copper? I have tried many barrier methods to control the dreaded slug munch but never copper.

[WPG]

I used a lot of copper tape and copper slug rings this year, and was really impressed. I put the rings around my brassica seedlings, and didn't get any slug damage at all. I stuck copper tape around my salad pots, and again no slug or snail damage.

The bands are quite expensive, I got mine from here Traps and Barriers However as they're reusable then I don't really mind the cost

The tape isn't very pretty around pots but I guess if it works, then job done

[dim]

when the copper starts to tarnish, do you have to polish it?

I read somewhere that if the copper is tarnished, it is not very effective

[WPG]

Yes, I think you're right Dim - I imagine tarnish reduces how conductive the copper is.

I don't think the tape will stay stuck onto pots more than a couple of years, so will need replacing anyhow. For the more expensive copper bands, I think the tarnish can probably be scrubbed off whenever needed, with a brillo pad or some vinegar. I've only used the bands for one season so far, and they're still pretty shiny.

[Feral007]

If it worked on arachnids then I'd put copper wire around my bed!