Slug pellets/Monty Don

[MINESAPINT]

I think its time for me to appologise for this thread. Although I do not have broadband and cannot see the programme again to check its actual content I must concede I cannot have been paying enough attention. However I do clearly recall Monty Don saying "only use these if you would normally use the others". Or words to that effect. He must have some reservations.

I promise to pay more attention in the future.

MINESAPINT

[Peggy Sue]

I ahve to say I've used these (selectively) but do think it's a laugh calling them 'Organic' when ferrous phosphate is about as inorganic as chemistry can get!

Not whole heartedly convinced they work (uses themin the cold frame but I find the odd one there lurking)

[Andy Hamilton]

I bought these last year and have used them. I agree Peggy sue not really sure that they work. The pond that I put down a year or two ago is having a much better effect on keeping the slug population down. We have at least 4 frogs in it now.

[Peggy Sue]

Next door have a pond but every time the frogs visit my dog chases them and rolls them over to play (she thinks she's a cat)- the visits are less frequent....or else they have retreated in fear

[Woodburner]

Some slugs actually eat other slugs, it's the little grey ones that do the damage.
Personally I wouldn't use commercial slug pellets unless I was really desperate AND I'd tried EVERYTHING else, and I know a lot of ways to deal with slugs. . .

[Peggy Sue]

I ahve to say I really feelt eh same, I'm quite happy eating lettuce with holes in, but when they ahve completely wiped out every seedling in your garden continuously all summer you do feel you ahve to do something- and having tried everything (except a pond which isn't viable) then I ahve had to resort to organic slug pellets.

Now I am managing to grow beyond the 2-leaf stage!

[Brenda]

I've been using them for a couple of years now and still unsure as to their effectiveness. Manchester is pure clay with a fair bit of rain - ideal for slugs and snails. The only thing that works is a head torch and a pair of scissors. Keep forgetting to ask the local pub for beer slops. I've gotten too mean in me old age to shell out for a boozy do for slugs!

[andyt]

beer traps are the most effective "natural"slug killers.I s'pose drowning in a vat of hops is preferable to spontaneous combustion[sort of thing].In the food-chain scheme of things,is there a good,or bad way,to eliminate the opposition?

[Millymollymandy]

Monty Don apparently has left Gardeners' World due to ill health - they announced it at Chelsea. Anyone know anything more about it? What a shame.

[Mrs Moustoir]

Apparently Monty has had a minor stroke and was advised to reduce his workload - hence the decision to leave gardeners world. Check out the BBC website for more info MMM.

He was speaking at the Hay Literary festival this week and seems to be on the mend now.

I'll miss him.

[Millymollymandy]

That's a bit scary though isn't it - I always thought the guy was mega fit - the way he digs for a start - makes my back ache just watching him!!! Eeks, maybe we should all think twice and take it a bit easier!

[Cheezy]

Strokes can effect the fit and unfit, prime cause is hypertension (high blood pressure)

In fact heart disease is more and more now being felt is initially linked to your genes.

Obviously if you eat and drink all the wrong stuff as well it doesn't help.But if you've got Celtic genes apparently you are more likely to suffer heart disease, so it's not just the fried mars bars, and pizza's!

Guy I know is a real hard core climber, fit as a lop as they say round here, not an ounce of fat on him, eats really well, didn't drink very much, triple heart bypass in his thirty's!
Edit
Oh what I wanted to say was I'm trying these pellets currently. I do use slug pellets when I first put out seeds/seedlings as ther eis nothing more frustrating than coming back to find an eaten stump of some small plant I have grown from seed. Once they are established I don't bother, and let the slugs get on with it.

[JR]

I have used a mixture of those "organic" blue pellets and this stuff below.

It says "organic friendly" but it fizzed a bit when we made the mixture so not really sure.

Between the 2 so far so good not lost too much to the little devils.

Funny thing is I gave a friend some lettuce, (grown where the soil was treated) she tried to give her giant snail some and he wouldn't go near it.

http://www.victoriananursery.co.uk/plan ... ug_banish/

I find it very difficult to know what to do for the best, I am always frightened to be the person who grows 100 percent organic who has the happiest slugs and snails in town and has no produce to show for the efforts.

[Michelle]

I bought some of those advanced slug killer pellets but on reading the label decided against them - it says it won't harm wildlife or children if used "as directed" That worries me a bit - if I use a few too many will I kill our hedgehog?

I think I will give them to my dad who is as unorganic as you can get so anything less poisonous than his current pellets is an improvement!

[MINESAPINT]

Slugs are certainly a menace but I am absolutely determined to produce food suitable for human consumption and equally determined not to harm any wildlife or critters unnecessarily. I keep a pair of scissors handy on the garden and have a "slug hunt" every day. I have had several attempts with beer traps but have not caught 1 slug in one yet!