Copper tape, and other good defences against slugs...

[Herbsandveg]

Having suffered wave after waves of wearying attacks from giant slugs and things this year, I'm determined to bounce back next year with some really beefed-up, impenetrable (hopefully!) defences.

One of the things I want to use pretty extensively - based on seeing how it worked for my partner this year around her plant pots - is copper tape.

Could anyone recommend a really good supplier of this for me, please? I've seen avoid lie of varieties that were OK but very flimsy, and we've lost the name of the supplier who my partner got the tape from that she used.

Any recommendations would be very gratefully received.

[spamvindaloo]

I didn't find copper tape all that effective but that could be because I only bought the cheap stuff. I ended up buying a bulk pack of 100 copper scourers and stretching them out to fasten around the beds. I think woodchip on the paths helps too. I've not tried it but I'm told that spraying WD40 on the sides of the beds and/or pots is effective as apparently slugs and snails won't cross it. Again not something I've tried but nematodes are meant to be very effective.

[ESBkevin]

I have used nematodes with reasonable success, but they start to work out expensive with repeat applications depending on your area/size. So I tend to do one application early in the season whilst it's not too dry to get a head start for the small seedlings.
No one thing is 100%. I will use pellets inside netted tents i even tried the cut/inverted bottle trap, beer traps are good, straight eyesight and a big boot work wonders. Remember they go to ground and pop up anywhere as well as crawl at suprising rate on a moist night. You just need to be on the case with several options throughout the season to keep the population down and remember the neighbours will be providing a further supply all the time!

[Jungle Jane]

I got some copper tape from wyvale that I used round my raised bed,it's been there for at least 3 years & stuck on solid but don't know the brand. I also bought some pound land copper tape,put it round a trough & after rain it had wrinkled up at the edges & gaps where slugs could crawl through,the adhesive was obviously just cheaper maybe you could add superglue or something? The raised bed copper tape has paid for itself in crop protection for 3 years. When I go out on torchlit slug walks there were loads of snails on the outside of the bed,7 one night then more the next night,never ending snails out there so it's a good defence option.

[Herbsandveg]

I got some copper tape from wyvale that I used round my raised bed,it's been there for at least 3 years & stuck on solid but don't know the brand. I also bought some pound land copper tape,put it round a trough & after rain it had wrinkled up at the edges & gaps where slugs could crawl through,the adhesive was obviously just cheaper maybe you could add superglue or something? The raised bed copper tape has paid for itself in crop protection for 3 years. When I go out on torchlit slug walks there were loads of snails on the outside of the bed,7 one night then more the next night,never ending snails out there so it's a good defence option.

Many thanks for the advice on this, JungleJane. I'll have a look for some of the Wyvale tape and see if they still do it. I'll post back here if ai manage to find some.

[Herbsandveg]

I didn't find copper tape all that effective but that could be because I only bought the cheap stuff. I ended up buying a bulk pack of 100 copper scourers and stretching them out to fasten around the beds. I think woodchip on the paths helps too. I've not tried it but I'm told that spraying WD40 on the sides of the beds and/or pots is effective as apparently slugs and snails won't cross it. Again not something I've tried but nematodes are meant to be very effective.

That sounds an interesting solution. I'll try the WD40 option next year along with the tape...

[KevinM67]

Do slugs/snails travel across sand ?

I was maybe thinking about putting a ring of sand round my plants in the ground next year - would that be pointless ?

[Cadalot]

Enjoy

Slug Wars Trilogy pt. 1 - Coffee Grounds vs Slugs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw0whAdhOG0
Slug Wars Trilogy pt. II - Diatomaceous Earth vs Slugs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7u40KTieeA
Slug Wars Trilogy pt. III - Eggshells vs Slugs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aJ2e_Wisvu0
Slug control 100% and most humane https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZoBeKS64_xc
Top ten - Natural slug control / Review and how-to https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hNMvyPHJZ-k

Humane & Slugs ??????
And the last one Slugs are cute!........... Let them live & Relocation ......... Really

[Jungle Jane]

Sand works well,until it rains but it's good in an emergency. Copper tape round halved plastic bottles works well with beans,you can water into them if you bury them an inch,so the water fills it up & soaks down,rather than just running off,I've been reusing the same ones for a couple of years & they're ok for next year too The thing with copper tape/copper is you only have to do it once & then it's a peaceful life,other things need reapplying - beer,sand,nematodes,doing the torchlit walk etc Watch out for the slugs that bungee in off of other plants though,or if a weed grows & gives them a bridge over the copper tape

[boatsman]

A couple of weeks ago I posted on one of the fora, I can't remember which, that I have copies of the American Organic Gardening magazine from 1978. There are details of how to get rid of slugs in the garden. The method is called 'Bug Juice'. It consists of catching several dozen slugs and putting them through a blender with a little water and then spraying the juice back over the plants you want to protect. According to the article it had proved to be very effective, practically 100%. Another method recommended in the magazine is to dust your leafy greens and the soil around them with either phosphate rock or wood ashes. These alkaline powders raise hell with a slug's acid slime and encourages it to go for a beer trap instead.

[vixylix]

eeeeew - there's no slugs going into my blender!!

[KevinM67]

eeeeew - there's no slugs going into my blender!!

Just use your potato masher.... it takes a bit longer mind you.

[Jungle Jane]

Seems a bit violent,I couldn't treat anything like that they can't help being a slug,'what goes around comes around' I'd hate it if someone put me in a blender but I dont mind if someone tried to block my path with copper tape. I think putting slug slime over your plants is worse than if slugs eat a little bit of it.

[Baldy]

trebuchet trebuchet...

need to do some work on it over winter methinks

[Baldy]

trebuchet trebuchet...

need to do some work on it over winter methinks