Slugs

[thegreenman]

can anyone tell me the best method of controlling slugs,ive tried copper wire,i dont want to use slug pellets as i have a few frogs in my year old pond and want to keep them alive.thanks

[tigersam258]

hedgehogs are a great way to control slugs. I have a small vegetable patch using a raised bed and have found that copper strips (not wire) keeps both slugs and snails off. You need to make sure that you do not give them any access to the area no matter how small. good luck :D

[Nosha123]

buy some nematodes!
Harrod Horticultural online do them I think.
Like a small parasitic worm that kills them... doesnt harm frogs either. easy to apply too!

I have some on order to de-slug my garden!!!!

[sn�gs]

http://www.savetheplants.co.uk/shop/nemaslug-t reats-100msup2-p-37.html

[thegreenman]

Thanks for the suggestions,ill do a bit of research into both copper strips and nematodes to find the best method

[buildersmate]

Nemotodes do apparently work but I think they are an expensive solution.
Amongst the non-chemical solutions, I find that beer-traps work.
Going round collecting them into a pot at dusk/dawn on a damp day works.
Putting course grit around hostas dissuades them from crossing the circle of grit. Ditto with ground coffeee grits.

[heathfield]

To build your own slug beer trap, look here. If you do make one, it's important that it's hedgehog-proof. (Something not mentioned on that website). Hedgehogs love beer. But a drunk hedgehog is much more likely to be run over than a sober one! Just place a large stone over the trap, leaving gaps for the slugs to get to the beer, but stopping a hedgehog from doing so.
Tip: A sunk slug is dead. A floating slug can be still alive, and may recover.

[thegreenman]

thanks buildersmate and heathfield...beertraps sound a better and cheaper option...thanks for the link heathfield ill bookmark for future ref

thanks to all who replied