[peapod]

A bit of a topic between grow your own and general gardening but heres my thinking
My front garden is on a busy main road with the majority being conifers and heather, I have a small patch at the front to grow different annuals every year.
Last year, not ONE flower seedling was left after slug attacks, but I balked at using pellets.  Theres no birds/hedgehogs etc visiting as the road is so busy all the time
I would never use slug pellets on my veggies, but cant see the harm in using them on my front garden as no wildlife visits
What does everyone think?

[Wildeone]

I've read that if you put the pellets in a bottle (coke or better still milk) and lay it on its side the slugs can get in but the birds and other wildlife can't - Not tried it myself - I sink small plastic babyfood tubs or jars and fill with smartprice lager once a week and even over the winter i'm composting 30-40 slugs a week from 5 little traps in an area 5mx1.5m.  The larger is 22p a can from asda or tesco.

I think i might be denting the poputation in my raised flower bed in the garden.

[richyrich7]

I use 'em more or less everywhere except the back garden and thats only because the hens are out and about. It is a concern on the adverse affects on other wildlife they can have but I don't do over kill and spread a few pellets over a wide area. My veg growing is not such a hobby as a desire to break free from the reliance on the supermarkets etc  as such I'd rather harvest veg than feed them to the local slug population.  

[gregmcalister]

I would rather not use pellets but last year I planted probably a few hundred brassicas and I ended up with 1 red cabbage at the end of the year. The slugs had eaten everything. This year it's war!

Don't forget you can buy organic slug pellets as well now.

[Terry]

A bit of a topic between grow your own and general gardening but heres my thinking
My front garden is on a busy main road with the majority being conifers and heather, I have a small patch at the front to grow different annuals every year.
Last year, not ONE flower seedling was left after slug attacks, but I balked at using pellets.  Theres no birds/hedgehogs etc visiting as the road is so busy all the time
I would never use slug pellets on my veggies, but cant see the harm in using them on my front garden as no wildlife visits
What does everyone think?

There is a chapter in John's book on slugs makes good reading plus the book is very good  :idea: Terry

[agapanthus]

'Advanced' slug pellets are supposed to be useful for organic gardeners.....I've used them before, might be the way to go.

[littlelisa]

My allotment neighbour plants shredded newspaper with his potatoes and swears that the printing ink deters slugs. I'd already planted mine when I heard this though, and must admit to having a large bottle of slug pellets at the ready...

[fivespud364]

these are the ones Agapanthus is talking about they are certified organic by the Organic Farmers and growers assoc and are completely harmless to pets and wildlife.

http://www.organiccatalog.com/catalog/product_info.php?cPath=61_179&products_id=1821

They are based on ferrous sulphate which stops the slugs feeding and they crawl away and die After remaining effective for several weeks in both wet and dry conditions, the pellets will break down to iron and phosphate nutrients as part of garden soil.

I wouldn't get them from the organic gardening Catalog though they are much much cheaper at garden centres or on e-bay

[rustygman]

has anyone tried putting seaweed down as a slug deterent - can’t remember where I heard it but I thought it might be an idea, salty and probably good for the soil as it rots down. Presumably its perfectly legal to cut a few bags worth off the rocks, chop it up and use it like a mulch, any thoughts?

[peapod]

thanks for that fivespud, im gonna go with those
thanks everyone