This is a tip from a magazine my OH was reading.
Save plants from slugs by putting oatmeal near them. It attracts the slugs, they eat it, swell up and die. It's organic and not harmful to anything else.
MikeB
Good tip MikeB will remember next year thank's.
Ok here is another. Alot of of people say carpets are bad, I say the people who put them down and leave them there for ever are bad/ Carpets are good for supressing weeds and making homes for TOADS!!! Yes toads and frogs eat slugs. So carpet a little of your allotment and gat some toads making residents. WOW what could be better slug control and weed control all in one!
The_Snail
Good suggestion MikeB, I have visions of exploding slugs everywhere now ... ;D
Derekthefox :D
catapult and fire the buggers as far as u can ;D ;D
What happens when it rains, Mike? Porridge mulch?
:)
Jimbo
Urrgghh !!!
Derekthefox :D
Quote from: Jimbo on December 19, 2005, 20:35:39
What happens when it rains, Mike? Porridge mulch?
:)
Jimbo
No idea, I thought of that after I had posted, I was just pasting the tip on. What I will do this weekend is find some slugs and try it out, I'll let you know the results.
MikeB
Could you put oats in a slug trap like beer or will they make an awful mess by exploding all over the roof?
Whatever happens , I think a stiff brush may be needed !!! ;D
Derekthefox ;D
I love the idea of putting oatmeal down and watching the little darlings explode, but I suppose it needs relatively dry days and active slugs...
Exploding Slugs :o :D :-\
I used to like me poridge in the morning :-\
The_Snail
sorry to p!ss on anybodies parade here but to me putting down oatmeal is probbo the worst thing u can do.. mahn it aint gonna deal with the slug population far from it... first morning dew and the oatmeal would have expanded anyways with the moisture... secondly its gonna encourage vermin for sure.. and thirdly it is still gonna ATTRACT slugs.. somebody told this to a good good friend of mine and I was horrified as she has wee ones, and doesn' have an allotment but just a garden...
what you have to address here is how NOT to attract slugs and mahn thats so simple.. COFFEEEEEEEEEEEE it really does work and is totally organic and for sure I havent had a slug problem whatsoever since reading about it in 2002?... will post you all the link in the edit.. so when u see last edit thang.. then its me putting in da link and not wordy correcting...
Ozzy
::) ::) ::)
as promiosed heres da link
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/2067214.stm
I agree with you Ozzy, oatmeal will only attract more slugs and snails, just like apparently commercial slug bait does, you might kill a few but you'll have hoards more to take their place. The coffee thing does work, I used it this year after reading about it here last year, think it was you that mentioned it Ozzy so thanks for that. :)
Tell your neighbours about the oatmeal thing and all your slugs will pack their bags and move to your neighbours plot ;)
So what do you guys do? Mixed a strong cup of coffee and then spray the plant(s)?
MikeB
I thought the easiest was to save the coffee grounds for sprinkling on the beds ... ?
Derekthefox :D
That's awkward with instant coffee
I get ground coffee at our local poundshop, it is cheaper than instant at the supermarket ...
Derekthefox :D
This might explain some more :)
http://www.allotments4all.co.uk/yabbse/index.php/topic,4440.0.html
pmsl jesseveve.. just read it back hahahahaha.. mahn.. least i am co0ntemporary LOL..
basic gig is this..... get sh!te coffeee from tescos.. 31p a jar and instead of giving it to ur inlaws.. try making whole 50g's up and add it to a 2 gal watering can.... do the soil .. not the plants as it stains ffs.... just go with it.. tis winter now and dereks advice about the coffee grounds tis a good one for sure.. slugs really dont like caffienne in the same way we dont like napalm or cynanide.. although i aint gave cynanide a try yet so cant say for sure cus i will give anything a go me ::) ::) ::)
babbling but its crimbo.. wouldnt give a toss if it wasnt but the excuse will do for now as its a seasonal thang :D
ozzy
:-* :-* :-*
I put slugs favourite food underneath carpets on the paths between raised beds, then the first job when I get to the allotment is to get a small pair of sissors from the alotment shed, pull back the carpet and cut all the slugs in half.
this was on GW in the summer. they did a trial and oatmeal they found was the best. but it had to be dry to have effect. so as soon as it rains its rubbish, so it can be a waste of time. but it does work!
Sprinkled on a board underneath another covering board, eg an old door? This way the rain is kept off.
Derekthefox :D
Or sprinkles in a commercial slug trap with a lid. Either way, a bit messy. ;D
If you like fresh orange juice and you squeeze your own oranges then you can use a squeezed upturned orange to trap the slugs. Thats what I do then I put them in a bucket and take them over to the fields and sling them over there. I do the same with snails. I hate killing them :-\. The only time I would use slug pellets is when they get into the greenhouse then they can do real damage there!
The_Snail
The messless slugtrap I have heard of is an old margarine tub with a hole cut in the side, fill with oatmeal or other nasty compound and leave. Once suitably filled with slugs, just pop into a carrier bag, seal and dispose of in any suitable bin ...
Derekthefox
Quote from: Derekthefox on December 23, 2005, 09:56:14
The messless slugtrap I have heard of is an old margarine tub with a hole cut in the side, fill with oatmeal or other nasty compound and leave. Once suitably filled with slugs, just pop into a carrier bag, seal and dispose of in any suitable bin ...
Derekthefox
Umm, just read this thread, and this solution sounds very good, even means I don't have to cut the slugs in half ::)
Anyone know whether caffine affects snails or worms? obviously I am happy if snails die, but I don't want my worms going elsewhere!
Quote Anyone know whether caffine affects snails or worms?Â
I think that it keeps them awake at night, Mat. ;)
Quote from: Jimbo on January 07, 2006, 05:32:37
I think that it keeps them awake at night, Mat. ;)
LOL, still if it keeps the worms awake at night; they may work harder for me ::)