[Homegrownmalc]

Hope you can help. I have a strawberry patch covered in weed control membrane, can i put fresh bark chippings around strawberries and on weed control membrane, or will this damage the plants as it is fresh bark? What would be the best, if not , to protect from sluggs? Many thanks Malc.

[Steve.P]

Fresh bark should not be a problem. Not sure about it stopping slugs mind.
You could try slug pellets. Or if you are going down the organic route, try crushed egg shells, or a ring of salt around the plants. Or even a beer trap. But this is a last resort. What a waste of good beer

[paintedlady]

I'd be a bit careful about using salt - in this wet weather it will soon wash into the soil so would need constant replensihing, and not all plants will like it (probably better suited round brassicas)  Most slug damage to strawberries is usually to the fruit rather than the plants themselves (they might nibble new growth which will be in spring)

I've put new bark chippings on top of weed suppressing stuff and it has been fine