[BobandJack]

Is it worth using nematodes to kill slugs?  They're pretty pricey & have to be reapplied regularly - anyone got any experience of using them?

[richyrich7]

their supposed to be very good but I've never tried them and it's probably to early in the year to try as the soil temp needs to be up a bit.

[Rampant_Weasel]

monty reckons sawdust is the best deterrent while u wait for the right time for nematodes

[Growbag]

I'm giving nematodes a try this year.   I have arranged a delivery for end April.   They suggest waiting a week before planting any seedlings as it can take a few days for any slugs to stop feeding.  Hoping that one application will keep the numbers down for six weeks allowing young seedlings to develop sufficiently.   I will report back later in the year with my findings.

[andtiggertoo]

i'm also trying them out this year, first batch arriving end of April, second batch arriving 6 weeks later.

I'm putting them in my raised bed veg plot, and have copper tape surrounding them to stop new slugs getting in.

i'll be interested to see how successful I'll be and others.

[slugtrap]

A damp night, a head-torch and a pair of scissors... very satisfying and effective. You can get well over a hundred in 20 minutes!!

[Brambles]

Me too...  I spent a whole summer going out every night, whatever the weather.   First couple of weeks I got between 100 and 150 per night, gradually decreasing over the summer and autumn, (I do have a very large garden!)...  Of course I still do have slugs and snails, but they are quite manageable and my chickens LOVE them!   It gets a bit tedious going out every night, but you do get great satisfaction knowing that you are reducing the numbers by a huge amount... well worth doing and MUCH cheaper than  nematodes

[sharky]

A damp night, a head-torch and a pair of scissors... very satisfying and effective. You can get well over a hundred in 20 minutes!!

good lord 

[FRUITFULL]

i find a slug or snail and feel sorry for it and end up walking down the end of my road to set it free.We have frogs and slow worms in our garden,they must be starving!
If only the slugs would stick to the weeds!

[BobandJack]

I have done the torch and scissors thing in the garden before now but can't really do it in the allotment as it's miles away from where I actually live, so I can't just wander across there of an evening.  I've put a little pond in in the hopes of attracting frogs and toads which might help.  I have no sympathy for slugs I'm afraid and not much for snails either to be honest, although I don't like to kills the small ones with the pretty shells but have no compunction about the big ugly fellas - hypocrite, moi?  I just don't want to use chemicals on the plot which is why I'm wondering about the effectiveness of nematodes.

[dougsta]

Sounds like nematodes are your best bet if it's too far away to get there in the night and no use of chemicals

[Sadgit]

Yep used them last year and they worked wonders to my already destroyed seed spuds, I just wish I have bought some sooner. The big difference with them is they attack the slugs and eggs underground, whereas slug pellets and copper, etc only get the ones above the ground.
£10 for each application so I will only be using 1 and hope it protects my seed spuds untill they start growing and that we have a dry(ish) year....... here's hoping!!

Think I will stick some slug pellets in the trench before I stick my seed spuds in... good or bad idea?

[Rampant_Weasel]

potato wise last year i grew maris bard nadine and king edward, the king edward and maris were riddled with slugs, but the nadine were barely touched so i guess choosing your variety helps as well.

[Growbag]

Fruitfull - beats walking the dog I suppose but did you realise that slugs and snails will travel back that half a mile to find home again.

[MoreWhisky]

Thinking of using nematodes myself but i hear they pricey!

Wheres the cheapest place to buy them???