FEATURE: Slug Pub

I’m not having much luck with my slug problem. First, the slugs mocked my feeble attempt to repel them with eggshells (by eating them no less). They then made light work of clambering over the plastic bottles. Despite burying the base of the bottle a little, they still managed to get in (or over, or under). I haven’t experimented with sawdust, as it’s been raining heavily every day and I figured it would probably just get washed away. Damage so far: 1 entire chilli plant, a lot of bedraggled strawberry plants, and a very annoyed me!

I need to nip this in the bud, so to speak, before the first strawberries and tomatoes appear and the slugs enjoy a berry-fest at my expense.

So, having tried and failed to deter them, I’m going to resort to non-chemical elimination, by trying out something called a SlugX. It’s relatively cheap and reusable (although made from plastic) and there are many similar products of varying sizes available. Basically you fill a reservoir with beer. The slug is attracted to the yeasty smell, ventures inside and promptly falls in. It wasn’t my first choice, as slugs do form part of the food chain, mainly as fodder for birds. However, as there are many other factors preventing birds visiting my garden (in particular the neighbourhood cats), I don’t think eliminating slugs from part of my garden is going to have a detrimental effect. Also, as you place the SlugX close to those plants you want to protect, in theory only the slugs which are greedy enough to venture to the veggie patch will drown. Those that stay in the safety of trees and grass at the back get to carry on munching their little hearts out.

Admittedly this approach does mean I’ll need to pour myself a shandy with the surplus beer, what a chore.

Check back in a while to see if the SlugX lives up to its reputation.

Bye for now

Linda

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