my neighbour says if i put my 'slug chewed' plant in a pot and then stand
the pot in a saucer and smear the saucer edge with Vaseline, the slugs wont
cross over the vaseline. any truth in this please? or any other
recommendations of what arrangement to stand the pot in please? thanks

"jww" <blue.star77 [at] REMOOVEvirgin.net> wrote in message
news:loxig.7159$n13.5247 [at] newsfe2-win.ntli.net...
> my neighbour says if i put my 'slug chewed' plant in a pot and then stand
> the pot in a saucer and smear the saucer edge with Vaseline, the slugs
> wont cross over the vaseline. any truth in this please? or any other
> recommendations of what arrangement to stand the pot in please? thanks
>

ummmm........a sprinkling of slug pellets.

"jww" <blue.star77 [at] REMOOVEvirgin.net> wrote in message
news:loxig.7159$n13.5247 [at] newsfe2-win.ntli.net...
> my neighbour says if i put my 'slug chewed' plant in a pot and then stand
> the pot in a saucer and smear the saucer edge with Vaseline, the slugs
> wont cross over the vaseline. any truth in this please? or any other
> recommendations of what arrangement to stand the pot in please? thanks

No idea about that but I saw the copper ring barrier advertised in an
unsolicited brochure we received.

Spouse uses copper sheet to make lanterns so I asked him to make me a few
such rings just to see what would happen. He was very sceptical (I was a
little too) but did make some.

I transplanted lettuce seedlings into the greenhouse border using six rings
(one on each plant). Slugs have been a terrible scourge of lettuce in the
past, this time the plants haven't been touched and they're thriving.

I planted some tiny brassica seedlings in the open, using the rings. They
haven't been touched.

I put some rings round the already growing - and slug eaten - runner beans.
They have recovered and there's no more slug damage.

I used them on small tomato seedlings, they weren't touched. When the plants
got to 8" I removed the rings and used them on other plants.

There are plenty of slug trails round all these sites.

I'm convinced, more importantly so is Spouse. He's ordering another sheet of
copper tomorrow without being asked. The rings will last more than a human
lifetime and will stack for storage. They are no danger to any animals or
birds, unlike pellets (which we won't use anyway, growing our vegetables
organically and having free range bantams). When they're new and shiny they
look attractive, as they dull they are almost invisible - he made some from
old copper cylinders to start with.

I wouldn't buy any though - they're very expensive and we might not have
enough life left to make them worthwhile. Younger people would benefit from
them but copper is easy to cut so you could make your own.

HTH

Mary

Mary
>
>

Mary Fisher wrote:
> Spouse uses copper sheet to make lanterns so I asked him to make me a few
> such rings just to see what would happen. He was very sceptical (I was a
> little too) but did make some.
--snip--
> I wouldn't buy any though - they're very expensive and we might not have
> enough life left to make them worthwhile. Younger people would benefit from
> them but copper is easy to cut so you could make your own.

Where can one buy copper sheet?

And is it just copper they don't like? Would using, say, galvanised metal
windowboxes or containers also deter slugs? And does it work for snails too?
I've long been thinking of planting some hostas in galvanised containers but
it's Snail City here so I don't know if they'd last long.

--
Sue
Pendragon Hamstery
Portsmouth, Hampshire UK
--http://www.pendragonhams.com--

>
> Where can one buy copper sheet?
>

Go to your Electrical Wholesalers and ask for Copper Earth Bonding Strip
:-))

Comes in reels about half and inch wide :-))

Used miles of it .................... for Earth Bonding ;-))

You 'can' cut it with a pair of sturdy Kitchen Scissors, BUT, it is better
done with a pair of Tin Snips, these won't cost you an arm and a leg at B&Q
:-))

Mike


--
------------------------------------------------
Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rnshipmates.co.uk
International Festival of the Sea 28th June - 1st July 2007

"EastneyEnder" <tulips [at] hamsterspam.com> wrote in message
news:C0B1F865.140FC%tulips [at] hamsterspam.com...
> Mary Fisher wrote:
>> Spouse uses copper sheet to make lanterns so I asked him to make me a few
>> such rings just to see what would happen. He was very sceptical (I was a
>> little too) but did make some.
> --snip--
>> I wouldn't buy any though - they're very expensive and we might not have
>> enough life left to make them worthwhile. Younger people would benefit
>> from
>> them but copper is easy to cut so you could make your own.
>
> Where can one buy copper sheet?

On our case from
>
> And is it just copper they don't like? Would using, say, galvanised metal
> windowboxes or containers also deter slugs? And does it work for snails
> too?
> I've long been thinking of planting some hostas in galvanised containers
> but
> it's Snail City here so I don't know if they'd last long.
>
> --
> Sue
> Pendragon Hamstery
> Portsmouth, Hampshire UK
> --http://www.pendragonhams.com--
>
>
>

"EastneyEnder" <tulips [at] hamsterspam.com> wrote in message
news:C0B1F865.140FC%tulips [at] hamsterspam.com...

>
> Where can one buy copper sheet?

In our case from Smiths Metals

http://www.smithmetal.com/smc/products/copper.htm
>
> And is it just copper they don't like?

I think so. Brass might work but it's harder to cut and bend into circles.

> ...And does it work for snails too?

Yes.

> I've long been thinking of planting some hostas in galvanised containers
> but
> it's Snail City here so I don't know if they'd last long.

A very large sheet, 2.4 x 1m, cost £164.51 a couple of months ago. That's
expensive but it would make a lot of rings - and the cost could be shared
with neighbours or a gardening club.
>
Mike's idea - Earth bonding strip - would be good but you need about 3"
depth to ensure that you can bury about 1/2" in the soil and there's no risk
of leaves overhanging.

Mary

> >
> Mike's idea - Earth bonding strip - would be good but you need about 3"
> depth to ensure that you can bury about 1/2" in the soil and there's no
risk
> of leaves overhanging.
>
> Mary
>
>

Didn't realise you required that depth, BUT, about a thousand years ago when
I was in Shipbuilding, the Wireless Offices were 'ringed' with a copper
strip about such dimensions, in order that all Radio equipment could be
'grounded' ie earthed. The half inch strip was taken from each piece of
Radio equipment to this massive strip. THEREFORE, this strip must still be
available :-))

And Off Topic now, if anyone wants to see an Radio Room of such a 'fit out',
the H.M.S.Collingwood Museum at Fareham near Portsmouth, has just a set up.
(Actually the Radio Room of H.M.S.Resource) For access you need to talk to
Lt Cdr W. Legg, 'Bill'. Mention my name by all means :-))

Mike (Crowe that is)


--
------------------------------------------------
Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rnshipmates.co.uk
International Festival of the Sea 28th June - 1st July 2007

jww <blue.star77 [at] REMOOVEvirgin.net> wrote in message
news:loxig.7159$n13.5247 [at] newsfe2-win.ntli.net...
> my neighbour says if i put my 'slug chewed' plant in a pot and then stand
> the pot in a saucer and smear the saucer edge with Vaseline, the slugs
wont
> cross over the vaseline. any truth in this please? or any other
> recommendations of what arrangement to stand the pot in please? thanks
>
>
either copper strip or if you have a QD shop near you, they sell crushed
seashells which you sprinkle around the plants which slugs don't like to
cross cos the shards poke them in their little sluggy tummies.

"Mike" <not [at] here.thanks> wrote in message
news:3audncyV4M712RHZnZ2dnUVZ8qudnZ2d [at] bt.com...
>
> Didn't realise you required that depth, BUT, about a thousand years ago
> when
> I was in Shipbuilding, the Wireless Offices were 'ringed' with a copper
> strip about such dimensions, in order that all Radio equipment could be
> 'grounded' ie earthed. The half inch strip was taken from each piece of
> Radio equipment to this massive strip. THEREFORE, this strip must still be
> available :-))

I didn't suggest that it wasn't, did I? :-)
>
Mary

"fenwoman" <fenwoman [at] gotadsl.co.uk> wrote in message
news:7ZSdnS9KGeEPyRHZRVnysg [at] pipex.net...
>
> jww <blue.star77 [at] REMOOVEvirgin.net> wrote in message
> news:loxig.7159$n13.5247 [at] newsfe2-win.ntli.net...
>> my neighbour says if i put my 'slug chewed' plant in a pot and then stand
>> the pot in a saucer and smear the saucer edge with Vaseline, the slugs
> wont
>> cross over the vaseline. any truth in this please? or any other
>> recommendations of what arrangement to stand the pot in please? thanks
>>
>>
> either copper strip or if you have a QD shop near you, they sell crushed
> seashells which you sprinkle around the plants which slugs don't like to
> cross cos the shards poke them in their little sluggy tummies.

I tried that, it didn't work.

I have a large source of crushed eggshells which are sometimes suggested,
they didn't work either.

Mary
>
>

>
> I didn't suggest that it wasn't, did I? :-)
> >
> Mary
>
>

Don't think you did, but I haven't seen it since all those years ago, BUT, I
have been out of that class of shipbuilding for a very long time. The sort I
have been doing over the last 20 years has been fast ferries and the
'wireless office' on those is a corner of the bridge :-))

Mike


--
------------------------------------------------
Royal Naval Electrical Branch Association
www.rnshipmates.co.uk
International Festival of the Sea 28th June - 1st July 2007

Mary Fisher wrote:

>
> "fenwoman" <fenwoman [at] gotadsl.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:7ZSdnS9KGeEPyRHZRVnysg [at] pipex.net...
>>
>> jww <blue.star77 [at] REMOOVEvirgin.net> wrote in message
>> news:loxig.7159$n13.5247 [at] newsfe2-win.ntli.net...
>>> my neighbour says if i put my 'slug chewed' plant in a pot and then stand
>>> the pot in a saucer and smear the saucer edge with Vaseline, the slugs
>> wont
>>> cross over the vaseline. any truth in this please? or any other
>>> recommendations of what arrangement to stand the pot in please? thanks
>>>
>>>
>> either copper strip or if you have a QD shop near you, they sell crushed
>> seashells which you sprinkle around the plants which slugs don't like to
>> cross cos the shards poke them in their little sluggy tummies.
>
> I tried that, it didn't work.

Bugger.
Piles of shells on the beach a few mins walk from me :-(
--
Sue
Pendragon Hamstery
Portsmouth, Hampshire UK
--http://www.pendragonhams.com--

"EastneyEnder" <tulips [at] hamsterspam.com> wrote in message
news:C0B22FE8.14120%>>> either copper strip or if you have a QD shop near
you, they sell crushed
>>> seashells which you sprinkle around the plants which slugs don't like to
>>> cross cos the shards poke them in their little sluggy tummies.
>>
>> I tried that, it didn't work.
>
> Bugger.
> Piles of shells on the beach a few mins walk from me :-(

I'm not saying you shouldn't try it. Perhaps Leeds slugs have hardier
tummies than Hampshire ones. We are in Yorkshire after all .. :-)
> --
> Sue
> Pendragon Hamstery
> Portsmouth, Hampshire UK
> --http://www.pendragonhams.com--
>
>

"jww" <blue.star77 [at] REMOOVEvirgin.net> wrote in message
news:loxig.7159$n13.5247 [at] newsfe2-win.ntli.net...
> my neighbour says if i put my 'slug chewed' plant in a pot and then stand
> the pot in a saucer and smear the saucer edge with Vaseline, the slugs
> wont cross over the vaseline. any truth in this please? or any other
> recommendations of what arrangement to stand the pot in please? thanks

I had correspondence some time ago (October 2005) about this - I'd forgotten
about it.

Mary:



> Something else we experimented with this year which proved successful
> > on containers is a double metallic strip, one of copper and one of
> > aluminium foil with a small gap separating them. We were growing sugar
> > snap peas in wooden boxes and put the double tape around one box and not
> > the other. The pea plants in the box without tape disappeared quite
> > quickly, those in the other box thrived (the boxes were next to each
> > other).
>
> That's very interesting - but it wouldn't work if crops were grown in the
> open ground, would it? As someone else pointed out, they live underground
> as well as crawling over the surface.
>
No, it only works on containers where they have to crawl over the double
metallic strip to get at the plants. I thought it might also work for
Paul's problem, if they had to crawl over the window cill to get to the
glass.
> ...
> >
> > The only problem is that we have not found anywhere to buy aluminium
> > foil tape and so had to make our own from aluminium kitchen foil cut
> > into strips and stuck to double sided sticky tape.
>
>

jww wrote:
> my neighbour says if i put my 'slug chewed' plant in a pot and then
> stand the pot in a saucer and smear the saucer edge with Vaseline, the
> slugs wont cross over the vaseline. any truth in this please? or any
> other recommendations of what arrangement to stand the pot in
> please? thanks

I had so many plants slaughtered by slugs last year so decided to try the
anti-slug nematodes this year.
I have to say that it was a great success. All the plants normally stunted
by
slugs early in the season are thriving. Eight weeks on I just noticed a
return of the slugs, so I have just ordered another batch of nematodes.

I was worried that doing this would kill off the food supply to the many
frogs
in the garden but they too seem to be doing very well.

Slatts

Mary Fisher <mary.fisher [at] zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:448c6acb$0$913$4c56ba96 [at] master.news.zetnet.net...
> >>
> >>
> > either copper strip or if you have a QD shop near you, they sell crushed
> > seashells which you sprinkle around the plants which slugs don't like to
> > cross cos the shards poke them in their little sluggy tummies.
>
> I tried that, it didn't work.
>
> I have a large source of crushed eggshells which are sometimes suggested,
> they didn't work either.
>
Perhaps yours have little kevlar slug tummy vests? The crushed seashell and
crushed eggshell works just fine for me. I grow hostas, luopins and all
sorts of slug favourites here very sucsessfully. The slugs are about cos
when I let the dogs out for their last piddle I see them on the concrete
path. Ginormous black ones and reddish brown ones nearly 3 inches long.They
just don't eat my plants.

"fenwoman" <fenwoman [at] gotadsl.co.uk> wrote in message
news:CpSdnWDjUs6GNRHZnZ2dnUVZ8tydnZ2d [at] pipex.net...
>
> Mary Fisher <mary.fisher [at] zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
> news:448c6acb$0$913$4c56ba96 [at] master.news.zetnet.net...
>> >>
>> >>
>> > either copper strip or if you have a QD shop near you, they sell
>> > crushed
>> > seashells which you sprinkle around the plants which slugs don't like
>> > to
>> > cross cos the shards poke them in their little sluggy tummies.
>>
>> I tried that, it didn't work.
>>
>> I have a large source of crushed eggshells which are sometimes suggested,
>> they didn't work either.
>>
> Perhaps yours have little kevlar slug tummy vests?

Well of course they're not their tummies, they're feet. When you consider
what they move along - concrete, sharp faced stone, soil itself, I'm not
surprised that shells don't work.

> The crushed seashell and
> crushed eggshell works just fine for me. I grow hostas, luopins and all
> sorts of slug favourites here very sucsessfully. The slugs are about cos
> when I let the dogs out for their last piddle I see them on the concrete
> path. Ginormous black ones and reddish brown ones nearly 3 inches
> long.They
> just don't eat my plants.

We get those too. The hens see to the smaller ones when they see them - but
the hens aren't allowed in the veg plots. I don't have hostas or lupins
(aphids saw lupins off my favourite list!) and in fact the huge slugs aren't
a problem for my veg, it's the little grey ones which have a taste for good
food :-)

Mary
>
>

"Sla#s" <phil [at] KNOTslatts.net> wrote in message
news:448c8fc0$0$22119$ed2619ec [at] ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...
> jww wrote:

>
> I had so many plants slaughtered by slugs last year so decided to try the
> anti-slug nematodes this year.
> I have to say that it was a great success. All the plants normally stunted
> by
> slugs early in the season are thriving. Eight weeks on I just noticed a
> return of the slugs, so I have just ordered another batch of nematodes.

Nemaslug is very effective but a bit faffy (timing and conditions have to be
right and they often don't so-incide with our life) and it's expensive.
What's more, you can't use it in the winter and my cabbages grow through the
winter. I have no experience of hostas.

Mary

Mary Fisher <mary.fisher [at] zetnet.co.uk> writes
>
>
>Well of course they're not their tummies, they're feet.

Gastropod = tummy-foot


--
Kay

fenwoman <fenwoman [at] gotadsl.co.uk> writes
>
>Mary Fisher <mary.fisher [at] zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
>news:448c6acb$0$913$4c56ba96 [at] master.news.zetnet.net...
>> >>
>> >>
>> > either copper strip or if you have a QD shop near you, they sell crushed
>> > seashells which you sprinkle around the plants which slugs don't like to
>> > cross cos the shards poke them in their little sluggy tummies.
>>
>> I tried that, it didn't work.
>>
>> I have a large source of crushed eggshells which are sometimes suggested,
>> they didn't work either.
>>
> Perhaps yours have little kevlar slug tummy vests? The crushed seashell and
>crushed eggshell works just fine for me. I grow hostas, luopins and all
>sorts of slug favourites here very sucsessfully. The slugs are about cos
>when I let the dogs out for their last piddle I see them on the concrete
>path. Ginormous black ones and reddish brown ones nearly 3 inches long.They
>just don't eat my plants.
>
The large ones are mainly detritus eaters. It's the smaller species that
do most damage to plants.
>

--
Kay

"Mary Fisher" <mary.fisher [at] zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:448d246e$0$907$4c56ba96 [at] master.news.zetnet.net...
>
> "Sla#s" <phil [at] KNOTslatts.net> wrote in message
> news:448c8fc0$0$22119$ed2619ec [at] ptn-nntp-reader01.plus.net...
>> jww wrote:
>
>>
>> I had so many plants slaughtered by slugs last year so decided to try the
>> anti-slug nematodes this year.
>> I have to say that it was a great success. All the plants normally
>> stunted
>> by
>> slugs early in the season are thriving. Eight weeks on I just noticed a
>> return of the slugs, so I have just ordered another batch of nematodes.
>
> Nemaslug is very effective but a bit faffy (timing and conditions have to
> be right and they often don't so-incide with our life) and it's expensive.
> What's more, you can't use it in the winter and my cabbages grow through
> the winter. I have no experience of hostas.
>
> Mary
Hi Mary,

the copper ring idea sounds like it's worth a try - I have a really bad
slug/snail problem. Could you just explain how you set the rings on/in the
soil. I presume you don't lay them flat, but poke them into the soil so
they protrude upwards....am I understanding it right?

Jo

>

"Jo" <jo [at] NOSPAM.stallan.plus.com> wrote in message news:448dd1c9$0$69382
>
> the copper ring idea sounds like it's worth a try - I have a really bad
> slug/snail problem. Could you just explain how you set the rings on/in
> the soil. I presume you don't lay them flat, but poke them into the soil
> so they protrude upwards....am I understanding it right?

Think of a straight sided flower pot with no bottom but made of a flat piece
of copper metal bent round into an overlapping ring, you have the thing.

I put the ring onto my arm, over my hand, then hold the leaves of the plant
together with my fingers and allow the ring to slide over my hand and the
plant. Then I move it round, backwards and forwards in a circular motion,
into the soil for about half to one inch deep.

I hope this helps.

Mary
>
> Jo
>
>>
>
>

"Mary Fisher" <mary.fisher [at] zetnet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:448dd67d$0$904$4c56ba96 [at] master.news.zetnet.net...
>
> "Jo" <jo [at] NOSPAM.stallan.plus.com> wrote in message news:448dd1c9$0$69382
>>
>> the copper ring idea sounds like it's worth a try - I have a really bad
>> slug/snail problem. Could you just explain how you set the rings on/in
>> the soil. I presume you don't lay them flat, but poke them into the
>> soil so they protrude upwards....am I understanding it right?
>
> Think of a straight sided flower pot with no bottom but made of a flat
> piece of copper metal bent round into an overlapping ring, you have the
> thing.
>
> I put the ring onto my arm, over my hand, then hold the leaves of the
> plant together with my fingers and allow the ring to slide over my hand
> and the plant. Then I move it round, backwards and forwards in a circular
> motion, into the soil for about half to one inch deep.
>
> I hope this helps.
>
> Mary
>>
>> Jo
>>
>>>Aah, I get it, but how but how tall is the ring...the whole height of the
>>>plant or just a couple of inches?
I have just explained to hubby who thinks it sounds a good idea too....and
there's an electrical wholesalers near his workplace that sells copper
bonding strip!

Jo

>>
>>
>
>