Slugs and snails have a tremendous capacity to frustrate gardeners. Overnight they
can destroy young seedlings and disfigure your favourite plants. There are numerous
ways to stop slugs and snails. The most common is the ubiquitous slug pellet;
however, many gardeners are reluctant to use a poison which can harm wildlife
and the environment. If you wish to avoid chemicals there are still many effective
methods to control slugs, these are some of the most popular.
Beer
Traps.
If you save an old plastic container and then sink it
into the soil it can provide an excellent beer trap. Slugs are not fussy so feel
free to use the cheapest beer. Also make sure it is easy for the slugs to slide
into the container by keeping the edges close to the soil level.
Egg
Shells
Around precious plants
Slugs
require a smooth surface to move. If they come across a barrier of grit
and gravel they will not be able to pass. Therefore, you can protect your favourite
plants and vegetables. This is a cheap way to protect the odd plant. However,
it can be quite time consuming, unless you only have a small number of plants.
Also if the barrier is not extensive, some slugs may be able to pass by.
Copper
Strips.
Similar to eggs shells and grit copper strips
can be placed around plant pots to prevent slugs climbing into them. The metal
strips can be bought from local garden centres and once in place offer a permanent
deterrent to slugs climbing in.
Encourage Frogs
One
of the best organic ways to decrease your slug population is through encouraging
their natural predators. One of the best slug eaters is the humble frog. If
you create a natural pond to encourage frogs and toads, you will find a natural
ally in the fight against slugs. On a good night, frogs can get through 10-20
slugs so they can be very powerful.
Encourage Birds
Some
birds, especially the Blackbird love to eat frogs. Encouraging birds into your
garden with a bird table may help provide another predator for eating slugs. Unfortunately
in the UK, the decline of the Song Thrush has been attributed to the
use of slug pellets (the birds get poisoned on the slugs who have eaten pellets)
This is another good reason for not using slug pellets.
Go Hunting
If
you go out in wet conditions, especially around dawn or dusk
you may be able to find and kill alot of slugs yourself. With a trowel you can
easily slice them in half. To make your job leave a lettuce leaf around and check
under stones.
If pursue these methods you will find the slug population
drastically declines; it can also be quite good fun to encourage natural
methods of dealing with slugs, rather than resorting to chemicals.
View More tips on gardening at Gardenerstips.org
Richard Pettinger has
worked as a gardener at Lady Margaret Hall, Oxford. He enjoys gardening and helps
to contribute to a site about offering practical tips for gardeners at http://gardenerstips.co.uk/blog/Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Richard_Pettinger
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