Hi all
Has anyone every tried using nut shells as a slug barrier?
OH suggested it over xmas as we had a huge bowlfull. I was mightily impressed by her ingenuity until she admitted that she'd heard it elsewhere (should've kept quiet!)
If you can use eggshells (we're vegan so can't/don't/won't)) and the similar stuff you buy at garden centre's then it seems that nut shells would be perfect to keep the beasties at bay.
Anyone got any experience of this??? I did a quick search on the forums but turned up a blank.
I can't see why not. They certainly hurt my feet when I walk on some I've dropped on the carpet :o You'd need quite a lot tho....
They can't be less effective than eggshells or grit :D so you might as well give them a go :).
we're trying dog hair, my daughter's collie's moulting so there's plenty..I heard about it from the allotment show and thought I'd try it on the winter lettuce :)
Worth a try - let us know how you get on.
Quote from: manicscousers on February 08, 2007, 18:24:08
we're trying dog hair, my daughter's collie's moulting so there's plenty..I heard about it from the allotment show and thought I'd try it on the winter lettuce :)
I remember the bloke on 'The Allotment' dvd using human hair to replel slugs too...My friend who used to work at Caulk Abbey also used bags of hair to deter deer....I think it worked too, but I don't know why?
Thanks for the encouragement. Definitely be trying them and will report back in due course.
How wide a ring do you need to put around the plant when using this kind of stuff? As the supplies are limited economy is a factor (isn't it always?).
Also, does anyone have any idea how long the shells will take to break down? I'm guessing it would be a pretty long time - anyone ever tried composting them?
The above Qs apply to the hair method as well as the shells. (I shave my own bonce so will begin saving that for use as well.)
Am I right in thinking it would act as a kind of mini-mulch to keep weeds at bay in the immediate area around the plants, or is that hoping for too much? I like the permaculture principle of getting multiple uses out of everything that you do - recycling waste, repelling slug, improving soil structure, supressing weeds ... anything else? ;D
I used crushed seashells around my runner beans and sweet peas last year, in a two inch wide line around them. These two plantings had been destroyed by slugs previously. It worked fine until the pheasants found them. Pheasants really like scratching around in sea shells. .... ::)
Col
well, I don't like to tempt fate, the long white icicle radish are up(quite quickly ), I don't know if the hair's protected them and ..shhhhhh..no signs of slug damage at the moment :D
Barrier methods work to some extent but the problem is that many slugs live under the soil and can therefore surface inside whatever barrier you use.
G x
If you put the barrier right up to the stem of the plant then there is nowhere for them to get inside surely? Or are they happy burrow through a sharp barrier of shells?
And would this them trap them inside effectively making them prisoners with a plentiful supply of food!?! :o
you could always put an orange skin upside down near it, get them when they go for a sleep ;D
Quote from: tonyveggie on February 09, 2007, 16:47:47
If you put the barrier right up to the stem of the plant then there is nowhere for them to get inside surely?
I wouldn't advocate putting any mulch right up to the stems of plants as you risk the stem rotting due to lack of air. Sorry. ::)
G x
I use dried crushed eggshells and put a handful inside the planting hole...praps you could do the same? Eggshells in, nutshells out?
I'm sure I heard somewhere that human hair also releases nitrogen.
Geoff.
Any hair will; it rots down and releases it slowly.