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Allotment Stuff => The Basics => Topic started by: RosieMcPosie on August 25, 2007, 11:18:54

Title: slugs in my compost...
Post by: RosieMcPosie on August 25, 2007, 11:18:54
is this a bad thing? loads of them. literally loads. i dont like to poison them, i'd feel too guilty about the other animals that eat them?!
i have 2 compost bins and they're crawling. is this a problem and if so what can i do about it? please help!!
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: Palustris on August 25, 2007, 11:55:03
As long as they are in your compost heap then they are actually helping it to change from plant material to compost. Many slugs can only eat decaying matter, they lack the strngth of 'teeth' to chew green stuff. Them and wood lice and bacteria and fungus are what makes a compost heap live. Just be careful when you spread the compost around.
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: cornykev on August 25, 2007, 13:17:57
I throw them in there sometimes, but still not sure if its the right thing to do, somebody on here said that they eat and eat them just die from the heat in the compost. Rosie you shouldn't have any problems killing them, they are vermin, turn your back and there'll strip your plants, just see them as a cross between bin laden and adolf hitler and then exterminate them.  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: donlottie on August 25, 2007, 18:21:01
sorry to jump in rosie but I have an ants next in mine - should these be killed and if so what can I use to do it as powder will not get deep inside. Mine is a black composter so difficult to airiate (spelt wrong but who cares!!!)
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: Deb P on August 26, 2007, 00:23:15
Ants like warm dry areas, so your compost is probably a bit on the dry side. Try watering your heap really well a few times and they will migrate to drier climes hopefully..... :-\
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: dtw on August 26, 2007, 01:40:02
I suppose ants must do a good job of turning it over.
If I had any, I would leave them in.
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: MrsKP on August 26, 2007, 08:20:04
the slugs that i don't teach to fly end up in the compost.

i'm far too squeaming to do the scissor or salt thing.

;D
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: RosieMcPosie on August 29, 2007, 09:41:50
i have no problems killing slugs... just in poisoing them... dont want to inadvertadly poison all our frogs/birds/slowworms etc too!
thank you for all your help! what would i do without a4a? xx
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: antipodes on August 29, 2007, 12:58:49
err what is the "scissor or salt things"??? OK I know you can put salt in slugs to shrivel 'em up, but scissors?????
I have very tiny slugs that munch the lettuce a bit but they don't seem to do that much damage. Maybe the man next door has eminently tastier veg???? But I must admit that I am a snail assassin... I pull them off and....step on them. gross gross and gross again. I hope I am providing food for the local birds because I then leave 'em in the path...
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: MrsKP on August 29, 2007, 20:00:35
the scissor thing makes two slugs out of one !  Just shorter. 

:P
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: Lauren S on August 29, 2007, 20:35:06
My morning ritaul consists of a coffee in one hand scissors in the other. Out side I go and check my brassicas for caterpillars. Chop chop and they are history  ;D

Lauren  ;)
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: OllieC on August 29, 2007, 22:06:00
It's funny - I have to get them between the scissor blades, and then turn away during the actual chop. And I have to screw up my eyes at the same time. Why?!?!?!
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: kt. on August 29, 2007, 22:18:01
You can always sprinkle a handful of slug pellets in the compost bin to kill them off. Don't turn them in just leave them on the surface.
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: filstaz on August 30, 2007, 08:55:21
one thing i read yesterday said that " One slug can have 90,000 grandslugs" kill them all i say!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Title: Re: slugs in my compost...
Post by: donlottie on August 30, 2007, 15:53:31
Why not water in nematoads to eat the little blighters babies that way you only have the mamas to dispose of.