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slug problem
slug problem
Posted by Barbara J. Welsh
from OH
on 2001-04-05 19:50:58
Does anyone have a solution to my dilema? I even sprayed around them with insect killer but that didn't even help. My hostas are surrounded by lava rock with weed block.
I would appreciate any suggestions. They definately would be worth a try.
Thanks. Barb
-
slimy pests
Quoting Barbara J. Welsh: ------------
Posted by Ber from VT on 2001-04-17 12:18:21
-Last year I had slugs that riddled my hostas; tried the beer and several kinds of slug bait. Finally ended up picking them off daily in order to save my many hosta plants.
-Does anyone have a solution to my dilema? I even sprayed around them with insect killer but that didn't even help. My hostas are surrounded by lava rock with weed block.
-I would appreciate any suggestions. They definately would be worth a try.
-Thanks. Barb
Hi Barb,
Last year was the year for slugs here, too -- very rainy.
Hostas are one of their favorites, I think -- nice and shady. I've excerpted the following from a National Gardening article on the site:
Snail and Slug Barriers
Perhaps the best barrier is made of solid copper (available at garden
centers or sold at hardware stores as copper flashing) in bands at least 3-inches wide. A snail or slug that comes into contact with one of these bands receives a slight electric shock. To increase effectiveness, bend the upper edge of each band to form a flange.
Copper is expensive, so it's cost-effective to group snail- or
slug-prone plants. Don't fret when your copper bands turn green with age; it doesn't reduce it's effectiveness.
We also reviewed a product called Sluggo on the site...have you tried that one?
Also, I try not to rant, but it's REALLY important to use pesticides of any kind only as direted. You mention spraying an insecticide--slugs are not insects, so it's unlikely that the product would have any effect on them. Please read labels and use pesticides only as directed -- even the organic ones can cause more harm than good if they aren't applied correctly.
Ber
