Folks I really hope you got to know this troublesome weed. If you enjoyed this episode make sure you check out next Friday's episode on tomatoes, You will not want to miss that. And in the meantime, you can check out these videos here ua-cam.com/video/s8jKmLPQe28/v-deo.html
Hi Jo Jo, I am planning to get into vermiculture and now have a full sized metal bath for growing them in. Unfortunately it weighs a lot and it has to be moved from the front of our house down steps then about 30 metres to the compost area and I am 77 do it years old. I am determined to do it though.Any suggestions as to where to get the worms from ?
I've got a similar method of controlling vermin in the garden- I've built a deep pond with steep sides, and no way of getting out- It works, already I've caught 3 pikeys, trying to break into my garden shed! :-)
jojo Britain'scrazywormwoman I never kill them I pickup and throw away into the bushes where no one live there , the same thing with rats we catcher we let go far away
This year I will be growing vegetables for the first time. I have watched dozens of channels like yours and you win first prize for being articulate, informative and entertaining. You give me the confidence to see this through. Well done and thank you.
Thank you Tony for your expertise and your gentle narration. Your subtle background music which allows us to focus on your informative advice is a big plus. Keep doing what you do so very well. John in Australia.
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, and reminding us that pest control needs to be balanced and we should avoid toxic chemicals. I live in Oregon and we have lots of slugs!
I choose beer traps . Because the birds come and clean them out after. And the thoughts of birds stopping by to have a nip of beer pub slugs makes me smile.😃
unlike most channels on this topic, you have explained why we NEED snails and slugs in the garden! and HOW to keep them out of the vege bed: live and let live, and still get your crop in without problems! THANKYOU
Great video Tony. I can definitely say that the pond method works best, lots of frogs eat lots of slug!. Another thing I have found is that having a compost bin nearby works very well too, the slugs find everything they need in there such as darkness, moisture and warmth with plenty food to eat. The frogs then patrol the area around the compost bin after dark and the birds hunt there in the day. My compost bin is very close to my veg patch and I never find slugs in the veg. Beer traps are very effective too
@@simplifygardening I have a pond at the back of my veggie garden I put in for this purpose - to encourage wildlife that kills slugs & snails. I have a bird feeder beside it to attract the birds. Twice I have filled the pond with little froglets, but weeks later, there are none left. I've suspected the birds are eating them but I don't really know. Any ideas why they'd disappear? I have hostas, Heucharas, lavender & lilies planted round it (its a moulded pond liner but has stones in it to allow anything that falls in, to get out)... Is there something in that planting that could be killing them? I never find any little dead bodies - just an empty pond. Any hints as to what's happening would be appreciated, thank you!
Oh and - pheasants! The pheasants eat all my little plantlets - cabbage, broccoli, cauli... unless it's all cloched as plantlets, then netted when too big for the cloches! Between the slugs & pheasants, we're lucky to get much produce for us! LOL I feel I'm keeping the wildlife fed, rather than the family! LOL!
Wonderful suggestions. I liked the fact that you avoid killing, and killing with chemicals. You are very considerate of environment and those animals that you save lives like birds by avoid eating chemicals.
A brilliant and extremely helpful video! Very many thanks Tony. We use gravel and chippings around the more precious plants, but we'll certainly be using your ideas. Thank you.
We had good results last year from adding epsom salt to the garden as well- the tomatoes and peppers thrived from the epsom salt so we use it anyway! Just sprinkled it around the plants they loved as well!
@@simplifygardening Just before I came in & watched this video I sprinkled ordinary table salt around my container of runner beans. I'd heard this method from somewhere years ago; hope it works this year! Only thing is, after heavy rain you have to sprinkle more!!
Wow! great tip, magnesium is so good for most plants in small amounts too! Hope it works on slugs too, will try it for sure. Guess it would just dissolve away in winter rain tho.
All your methods are very informative. I've been sprinkling a bit of salt around the pots on my porch & also slightly bake up a bunch of egg shells, crush & sprinkle over the tops soil of my potted plants. Thanks
Just started gardening, so this is a great way for me to start out and understand what I need to think of before starting. This was clear and I will be looking for a place for a pond in my garden. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your tips! Gardening is new to me and slugs were my nightmare! But thanks to your video I have learned how to control slugs in my garden and Im very grateful for your tips 🥰
THANK YOU for your holistic gardening philosophy and advice! I feel it is so crucial to see the earth and all living creatures inhabiting it as being what it is-- one indivisible ecosystem with each creature playing its own important role.
Thank you. I live in Alaska in the US. These are all some very good ideas. When I rainy season comes, the slugs are very small but everywhere. The first thing in the morning, I go out and collect them before they can hide. Then i use the “rock method. I can always find those guys under the rocks as the sun rises. We hate the damage!! I am Surprised they eat my marigolds!
I use coffee water. I got the tip off YT somewhere. It's still slightly oily and when it dries, slugs won't cross the line. I spray it on pot edges to dry. In the morning, I can see slime trails coming up from the soil, following the coffee line, and then making a U turn back down to the soil. I live next to a wetlands so there's no shortage of slugs here. I also spray coffee water down in the base of lettuces where the new leaves come up. Does wonders for my chard. I watched a green 'stink' bug on my bell peppers walk over a dried spot of coffee and then freeze. It shivered all over - like a convulsion - and then flew away. Even ants will make a new entrance before they'll move a coffee ground. The great thing about spent coffee water is it's always available every morning so I collect it and decant and fine filter the added water to a spray bottle. In addition, since it's a little oily, the droplets dry as a raised 'shield' that survives rain. Now my major slug issues are if leaves droop over soil after a rain, but l keep the plants trimmed and upright so even that's not much problem.
My tip is eggshells. I save all of my eggshells. Once they're dry, I crush them, and use them as mulch, in my veggie beds. Slugs and snails dislike the 'crunchy pathways'.
Been doing this for years, it really works. Warm the Vaseline until it liquifies and then stir in as much salt as it will take! Also works to protect my sunflowers - paint the bottom 6 inches (150mm) of the stalk with it, repeat as needed (it's pretty rain proof but not entirely). Also works on other plants with bare lower stalks.
I did the same thing. Take a plastic bottle. Cut the top and bottom off to produce a cylinder. Smear the vaseline and salt around the outside of the cylinder, and place it around the stem of the plant to protect it. This works well for sunflowers.
Thanks so much for this very articulate and informative video. Dealing with slugs is essential if anything is going to grow in our garden, and one can get very disheartened when a carefully nurtured seedling gets decimated overnight! I've found beer traps really helpful - the slugs just can't resist, and I must have collected about 20 the first night it was set! According to other pros., its best to put the slug traps a distance away from the main growing bed, so they're not attracted TO that bed as they can smell the beer from a long distance. I've also found they don't like cut hair - works like the sheep-wool pellets - but better chopped up a lot as it's also attractive to the birds; I had to keep the birds off as our local sparrows love the hair for lining their nests!
A tip I got from a gardening program was to mix minced garlic to a ltr of water and add to watering can when watering ,apparently slugs and snails do not like the smell of garlic
I grew up in a self sustainable life. For generations my family has scattered woodash around the plants to protect them from slugs. The soil also benefits from the minerals in the ash
Also crushed egg shells help,let them dry out and then they crush better, scatter on plants ,they don't like pointy bits !|Soot helps too ,can't slither well
Helen Antrichan I tried eggshells and it actually attracted them! In the morning there were so many slugs crawling in and over the sharp bits and eating the shells like it was dessert!
i like to use the cinderblock-method. every time i see one of those sobs i throw a big cinderblock at it. however, this damages my salad so i'll try the wooden-board- and beer-methods now.
Many thanks Tony, great tips. When I'm planting out a slug vulnerable crop I'll follow up for a couple of evenings and go out with a torch to pick slugs off those young plants. It takes time and isn't practical if you have growing areas away from home. But if you can do this it really helps when establishing vulnerable crops like climbing beans.
I've grown a couple of very large Hostas in 3ft high pots for four years now. The slugs never attack those Hostas, maybe because they are so high up off the ground? Also its a fantastic way to display the large varieties.
I use horse hair that I save when my horse moults in the spring. I just surround the stem of any tender plants I plant out with it and it works a treat. When the plants are finished the hair just stays in the bed to decompose naturally. Works a treat.
Hi, i really like how you thought us how to get rid off slugs.. in fact my partner bought a copper tape just now 50m and 12 slugs house to put beer in it. As we saw your slugs tips.. thank you.. I really have problems with sluggs, mostly night I go out at night to hunt slugs, that eating my Pakchoi, chinese cabbage, mustard leaves, spinach and others..
I'm grateful for anyone sharing their slug/snail elimination tips! I use copper tape, around various-sized pots, depending on the size of the plant; I cut out the bottom of the pot, surround it with the tape, and plant the plant inside of the pot (that I've submerged into the soil a few inches). I don't have to use any battery; I've watched them try to cross the copper barrier and get all slimed and leave. That's my most effective method, and I get the copper tape fairly cheaply on ebay. the other thing I do is to add hair; I get it from the beauty salon, clean it, then make a barrier all around the edges of the beds (I also do raised beds). Slugs hate to get tangled up in hair, so it seems to work, but I do have to also put a little "fence" around the veggies, so they don't just sprawl all over the ground, eventually covering the hair up and allowing access. I use tomato cages (which I get free from craigslist free site) to hold my cole crops and such up and out of the soil as they grow and get big, such that they don't also cover over the copper-lined pots. I install a drip/emitter system attached to the tops of the tomato cages so as to hold the watering system above the plants such that there's no "bridge" from that either. You really have to get clever to avoid these buggers; I too don't believe in just killing them, but rather, preventing them from doing the damage to the things I want to eat.
@@simplifygardening oh! I do know that it's important to have at least 2 inches wide copper strips; I use a one-inch, then a half-inch space, then a half-inch and that usually does it.
I cannot kill anything in my garden. So I go at night, collect all the slugs/snails and deposit them somewhere wild where they will continue to live their lives 🙂
I hope you wear rubber gloves when you handle those slugs. Some have highly toxic pathogens in their slime that can make humans deathly ill for years, cause permanent neurological damage, and even kill some people. They can even spread a form of meningitis to people: www.livescience.com/61957-teen-paralyzed-after-eating-slug.html All produce should be thoroughly washed, to ensure that snail slime is removed from fresh produce, and that baby slugs or snails are not accidentally ingested.
Its hard work isn't it. Creators have to be writers, planners, content creator, filmers, editors , seo professional, social media managers, and speakers. we wear many hats mate. it can be over whelming, but get good at one thing then move on to the next. Im now learning how to make my own courses and how to blog. Im must be doing ok at it i just ended up number 21 of the top 50 gardening blogs in the UK
Thanks Tony, I know this seems a little more work but I have made hoop houses with hinges on them with a tight mesh and up to now that's done the trick (2nd season)
Hi new subscriber, I've found coffee seems to deter younger slugs, going to get some coffee grounds from my local Starbucks & try that out, heard it's meant to work which is why I tried the coffee
Hey welcome to the channel. Sorry I didnt get notified of your message and just came across it. Yes Coffee grounds is a great deterrent. Oh and welcome to the channel :)
Used coffee grounds are low in caffeine. I have tried spraying plants that slugs like with room temperature coffee, and still saw some damage within a few hours of application. Either the caffeine volatilizes quickly or the concentration of caffeine in coffee is not high enough to deter slugs.
Used coffee grounds around your plants also work well - they stick to the slugs which they don't like. They last a long time (don't dissolve) and are environmentally friendly. Also helps to keep cats away, as they don't like the smell.
Thanks for the info! I'll be employing a lot of these methods. I didn't realize I needed a battery to make the copper tape effective. Makes sense! Great video!
You are welcome Supposedly it should work without but it doesnt, However with it works everytime. I had this working on a 12 x 4 bed for years and never had a slug in there
in Sweden you can buy snailedges, thin metal sheets which you fastens with screws on your wooden raised bed , they go out and are bent 45 degr. The snail cant pass this, they fall down. I have hade no snails in these beds all summer. Great video!
I had zillions of slugs eating my ferns. I go out at night in the heavy rain with a flash light and when I see one I put a tiny bit of salt on it. Now I have many ferns and fewer slugs.
i have not used the nematode method ,but shall certainly try it ,but i have / am using beer traps ,and milk .At the moment milk inside a trap seems to be more effective.
I can tell you a method that works perfecty for me: I build realy high raised beds (brest hight). I build it using sticks and robe. At the botom I put a lot of big logs and wood debree wit holes in it. Then I started layering with finer and finer material. On the to there is just earth. This acomplishes 2 things: inside my "heap" there is enough space for lizards to live in (specificaly Lacerta viridis). Those lizards eat snails. The secong effect is, that my snail eating ducks dont run over my gardenbed. The ducks eat every snail down there and the lizards eat all the egs and small snail that somehow managed to get past the ducks. The ducks cant eat my salad and lizards dont like it. If you build it like a keyhole garden, you dont even have to water. I figured that out by accident. Works splendetly and i dont even have to go on my knees. Cheers from Slovenia.
@@simplifygardening Yes, its realy a combination of a hugelkultur and a keyhole garden. The big difference is that its biuild up like a raised bed with a lot of holes in it. So the lizards can crawl around. I build i that way just becouse I had no other material. I use it mainly for pumpkins and similar things that like high nitrogen content. I did not expect it would work out like this. It dubled my lizard population in one year. I cant find a slug in my garden. Of corse ducks are esential. They are much better then chicken. They do not destroy the soil. If you have space and also a slug problem, you should get ducks. They need a smal pond, but thats not a big hussle. Keep on gardening people. The world will need it (and by the world i realy mean humans - other liveforms will be fine without us)
He missed the best slug control that is profitable too ! Duck patrol. Let the ducks in given plot once a week for few hours and they will inspect each plant and get rid of the slugs and thank you with nutricious eggs plus free fertliser too !
It was left out on purpose Dave, I have ducks and each time they are allowed in the garden they muller the lettuce and other tender plants, they wiped out a whole bed before. But they do great with the slugs, but to me I want the slugs gone to save my lettuce and then a duck comes and eats it. Also a lot of folks arnt allowed them in their gardens so I wanted to give methods that all can use
Cathy I have found copper penies, or copper as a rule ineffective wiithout the 9v battery. My mother used them last year old pennies so they were big and her hostas were ravaged
My garden was infested with slugs and snail before but now I do not see them at all. It all started when I started using organic fertilizer. I throw kitchen scrapes such as, onion peels, garlic peels, orange peels, lemon peels, eggshell, and other vegetable and fruit scrapes I intend throw away into a bucket. Fill it up with water, let it ferment for a week. And then pour cup into watering can dilute with water and water my vegetable garden, once a week. I did notice after using this method my vegetable was growing faster than normal but I did also notice slugs/snails disappearing from the garden.
Thank you Tony. Great video. Slugs are an issue for me right now so this was a much needed video. Your scarecrow makes me jump every time 😅😅, He does his job. 🌳🌳🌳🌻🌻🌻
A lot of talk lately about the blue pellets, but there are 2 types. Metaldehyde pellets are the harmful ones, they'll poison birds frogs and hedgehogs, so they are about to be banned thankfully. However there are organically approved pellets, lighter blue, containing ferric phosphate, which doesn't kill the birds etc. I use those until my nematodes get to work, which can take a couple of weeks with a big slug population.
Yes Its great news they are being banned, I left it to just blue pellets due to the fact that Metaldehyde are usually the ones folks buy in cheap stores and therefore easier to use wool
Great advise on the slugs!! Followed the tips and I’ve not seen a single slug in my garden in over a week now!! The issue I’m having is the moths or white butterfly’s are laying eggs and then my pak Choi is being demolished? Any advice on how t get rid of stop them laying the eggs?? Thanks
Thanks for the great video. I've been battling with slugs and snails for a while now, watching beautiful plants disappear before my eyes, but no longer! Trying the copper route, but without the power supply (for now) If I do use power it'll be 10,000 Volts (I'll fry the barstewards) Escargo anyone....
Thank you Tony for your priceless advice ,it was a pleasure watching your video and all the things you went through was amazing I love growing but I am now limited for space I am trying to get an allotment but they are hard to get as the waiting list is so long in London ,there are some near the Olympic park which isn't far from me I might get one when I am a 100 years old you never know your luck. All the best Pat Flynn
I got 4 hedgehogs in my garden.. i builded 4 houses for them and i love them .. they are very cool. Not so much slug or snails, my friends are helping to keep them away (they are free to come and go). When it's raining i throw some of my food remains (vegetarian) in an other place where snails and slugs are and can stay. You given a nice advice for ponds .. small animals and insects traped in there SHOULD be able to get out, nicely done.
Thanks Tony, I never realised there was so many ways to keep the slugs down, and thus protecting your crops. I know you will have vast knowledge of slugs and snails being quite wet at in Wales often.I love the pond method, which gives your garden area some extra character , interesting to look at and the wild life benefits, cheers.
Hey thanks appreciate your support. Yes I cover pretty much everything you can think of around those three subjects. Not far from Cardiff Im nr pontypridd
Cardiff you got to be joking mate, he's from up or near the rhonder , i'm sorry I have lived in wales all my life, and still struggle with spelling the place names, in fact my street name is in Welsh and I have to think twice when writing down my address , hey but I will not lose any sleep over it. happy gardening every one, and most of all stay safe. regards from a Barry boy,
Great video Tony 👍 I’m using nematodes and copper tape. So far so good 🤞🏻 But something I’d like to ask is it normal to have loads of tiny flies in your compost bin? I haven’t composted before. Would appreciate any tips.
They are fruit flies and harmless but not particularly nice when you lift the lid so just make sure food waste is totally covered with a bit of soil or leaves, grass, cardboard paper etc.
Yes you will get small flies but shouldnt be masses of them you need the wildlife to help with the decomposition process and I have a very in depth video coming for my 50k special so tune in for that too
Thank you for sharing your video. I have been trying to save our Hosta plants from slugs and snails. I am using old used coffee grounds, broken up eggshells, chopped up rosemary and crushed cloves mixed with water. I'm hoping these methods work.
Go down beach . Get sea shells. Make a fire, get a tin . Shells in a tin lid on , cook carbon out of shell , 3 hour burn , cool down . Grap hand Fulls and sprinkle on soil, the dust is like glass and they hate it ,
Im planting my first garden this year. Thank you for telling us about the blue pellets. I would never want to hurt wildlife. I would rather just not have a garden before doing something like that. I think the 2 methods I would use would be nematodes and the wool pellets.
Helen Antrichan They literally don't exist in London. It's a shame our urban foxes don't seem keen on slugs, too busy screaming all night long I suppose!
Folks I really hope you got to know this troublesome weed. If you enjoyed this episode make sure you check out next Friday's episode on tomatoes, You will not want to miss that. And in the meantime, you can check out these videos here ua-cam.com/video/s8jKmLPQe28/v-deo.html
Hi Jo Jo, I am planning to get into vermiculture and now have a full sized metal bath for growing them in. Unfortunately it weighs a lot and it has to be moved from the front of our house down steps then about 30 metres to the compost area and I am 77 do it years old. I am determined to do it though.Any suggestions as to where to get the worms from ?
I've got a similar method of controlling vermin in the garden- I've built a deep pond with steep sides, and no way of getting out- It works, already I've caught 3 pikeys, trying to break into my garden shed! :-)
How to rid of creeping buttercup weed in lawn
@@marygartlan438 The only way to do it without chemical's is to dig them out. Otherwise a selective weedkiller would control them.
jojo Britain'scrazywormwoman I never kill them I pickup and throw away into the bushes where no one live there , the same thing with rats we catcher we let go far away
This year I will be growing vegetables for the first time. I have watched dozens of channels like yours and you win first prize for being articulate, informative and entertaining. You give me the confidence to see this through. Well done and thank you.
So nice of you Jeff. And you can do it. Im here if you need help
Super of you to warn against the blue pellets!
Always!
Thank you Tony for your expertise and your gentle narration. Your subtle background music which allows us to focus on your informative advice is a big plus. Keep doing what you do so very well. John in Australia.
Hi John. Thanks very much, Glad the content is interesting to you and appreciate your feedback :)
Thanks for sharing your knowledge, and reminding us that pest control needs to be balanced and we should avoid toxic chemicals.
I live in Oregon and we have lots of slugs!
Karen have a go with nematodes it will really knock their number for you and harmless to anything that eats the dead ones
I choose beer traps . Because the birds come and clean them out after. And the thoughts of birds stopping by to have a nip of beer pub slugs makes me smile.😃
See them wobbling all over the garden lol
I wish we could do that. But we are in an urban area and the birds don't venture down to ground level very often.
Next thing you know slugs will be bringing their own stools in demanding cigarettes
@@simplifygardening o
That's right and why not?
unlike most channels on this topic, you have explained why we NEED snails and slugs in the garden! and HOW to keep them out of the vege bed: live and let live, and still get your crop in without problems! THANKYOU
Great video Tony. I can definitely say that the pond method works best, lots of frogs eat lots of slug!. Another thing I have found is that having a compost bin nearby works very well too, the slugs find everything they need in there such as darkness, moisture and warmth with plenty food to eat. The frogs then patrol the area around the compost bin after dark and the birds hunt there in the day. My compost bin is very close to my veg patch and I never find slugs in the veg. Beer traps are very effective too
Alexis that is the reason why the pond was number 1 in this video, should be on everyones slug combating list
@@simplifygardening I have a pond at the back of my veggie garden I put in for this purpose - to encourage wildlife that kills slugs & snails. I have a bird feeder beside it to attract the birds. Twice I have filled the pond with little froglets, but weeks later, there are none left. I've suspected the birds are eating them but I don't really know. Any ideas why they'd disappear? I have hostas, Heucharas, lavender & lilies planted round it (its a moulded pond liner but has stones in it to allow anything that falls in, to get out)... Is there something in that planting that could be killing them? I never find any little dead bodies - just an empty pond. Any hints as to what's happening would be appreciated, thank you!
Oh and - pheasants! The pheasants eat all my little plantlets - cabbage, broccoli, cauli... unless it's all cloched as plantlets, then netted when too big for the cloches! Between the slugs & pheasants, we're lucky to get much produce for us! LOL I feel I'm keeping the wildlife fed, rather than the family! LOL!
Wonderful suggestions. I liked the fact that you avoid killing, and killing with chemicals. You are very considerate of environment and those animals that you save lives like birds by avoid eating chemicals.
Slugs have eaten ALL of my lettuces. Nasty things. Great tips Tony
Annoying sometimes Shaun when they do that. this is why I make sure i really get on top of numbers
A brilliant and extremely helpful video! Very many thanks Tony. We use gravel and chippings around the more precious plants, but we'll certainly be using your ideas. Thank you.
Thanks Sue glad you found it helpful
We had good results last year from adding epsom salt to the garden as well- the tomatoes and peppers thrived from the epsom salt so we use it anyway! Just sprinkled it around the plants they loved as well!
Melissa I will have to try that. thanks for the tip
@@simplifygardening Just before I came in & watched this video I sprinkled ordinary table salt around my container of runner beans. I'd heard this method from somewhere years ago; hope it works this year! Only thing is, after heavy rain you have to sprinkle more!!
Wow! great tip, magnesium is so good for most plants in small amounts too! Hope it works on slugs too, will try it for sure. Guess it would just dissolve away in winter rain tho.
I like what you do. Pond and nematode. Thank you for sharing.
All your methods are very informative.
I've been sprinkling a bit of salt around the pots on my porch & also slightly bake up a bunch of egg shells, crush & sprinkle over the tops soil of my potted plants.
Thanks
Thanks Nancy for letting the community know how your dealing with them
I've got them in my house and gonna start sprinkling salt around where they normally go
Just started gardening, so this is a great way for me to start out and understand what I need to think of before starting. This was clear and I will be looking for a place for a pond in my garden. Thank you.
Oh welcome to the gardening world Sandra
Thank you so much for your tips! Gardening is new to me and slugs were my nightmare! But thanks to your video I have learned how to control slugs in my garden and Im very grateful for your tips 🥰
I am glad you found value in the video. I have plenty more with information that will be of use to you
From Cayambe South America
Your video with your explanation are very important, Thankyou very much.
Thanks Susana and welcome
THANK YOU for your holistic gardening philosophy and advice! I feel it is so crucial to see the earth and all living creatures inhabiting it as being what it is-- one indivisible ecosystem with each creature playing its own important role.
Yes Devore !! Three years in row in my garden.
Are Slugs just poor snails who've gone through a messy divorce.?
😄
I would have lost 2 shells if i were a slug then
homeless.
?
W
.
🤣🤣🤣
Thank you! I go with pond and wood planks and beer.
That scarecrow scared the living daylights out of me!!!!!
Hey you leave Wurzel alone great scarecrow!
fiffi honeyblossom It bears a resemblance to Rod Stewart
@@arriesone1 I thought it was Boris J. Scary.
It looks like Alan Titchmarsh!
I keep waiting for it to move! (Ya know, like a prank...).
Great info. I'm going to just go put a fan in my garden green house. And run it at night. To help dry them out
Thank you. I live in Alaska in the US. These are all some very good ideas. When I rainy season comes, the slugs are very small but everywhere. The first thing in the morning, I go out and collect them before they can hide. Then i use the “rock method. I can always find those guys under the rocks as the sun rises. We hate the damage!! I am Surprised they eat my marigolds!
Wow tracy. Check out the nematode video in the description of this video. it will make your work much easier. I cant find slugs in my garden atm
I use coffee water. I got the tip off YT somewhere. It's still slightly oily and when it dries, slugs won't cross the line. I spray it on pot edges to dry. In the morning, I can see slime trails coming up from the soil, following the coffee line, and then making a U turn back down to the soil. I live next to a wetlands so there's no shortage of slugs here.
I also spray coffee water down in the base of lettuces where the new leaves come up. Does wonders for my chard. I watched a green 'stink' bug on my bell peppers walk over a dried spot of coffee and then freeze. It shivered all over - like a convulsion - and then flew away. Even ants will make a new entrance before they'll move a coffee ground.
The great thing about spent coffee water is it's always available every morning so I collect it and decant and fine filter the added water to a spray bottle. In addition, since it's a little oily, the droplets dry as a raised 'shield' that survives rain. Now my major slug issues are if leaves droop over soil after a rain, but l keep the plants trimmed and upright so even that's not much problem.
What do you mean by coffee water? How do you prepare it?
My tip is eggshells. I save all of my eggshells. Once they're dry, I crush them, and use them as mulch, in my veggie beds. Slugs and snails dislike the 'crunchy pathways'.
Thanks tony feed them well😊
I'm trying rubbing vaseline rubbed round the sides of pots with salt pressed into it. Seems to be working so far :)
good tip thanks
great
@@RedScotland it’s not like it’s diamonds lol.
Been doing this for years, it really works. Warm the Vaseline until it liquifies and then stir in as much salt as it will take! Also works to protect my sunflowers - paint the bottom 6 inches (150mm) of the stalk with it, repeat as needed (it's pretty rain proof but not entirely). Also works on other plants with bare lower stalks.
I did the same thing. Take a plastic bottle. Cut the top and bottom off to produce a cylinder. Smear the vaseline and salt around the outside of the cylinder, and place it around the stem of the plant to protect it. This works well for sunflowers.
Thanks so much for this very articulate and informative video. Dealing with slugs is essential if anything is going to grow in our garden, and one can get very disheartened when a carefully nurtured seedling gets decimated overnight! I've found beer traps really helpful - the slugs just can't resist, and I must have collected about 20 the first night it was set! According to other pros., its best to put the slug traps a distance away from the main growing bed, so they're not attracted TO that bed as they can smell the beer from a long distance. I've also found they don't like cut hair - works like the sheep-wool pellets - but better chopped up a lot as it's also attractive to the birds; I had to keep the birds off as our local sparrows love the hair for lining their nests!
Great tips there thanks for adding them for the community
A tip I got from a gardening program was to mix minced garlic to a ltr of water and add to watering can when watering ,apparently slugs and snails do not like the smell of garlic
Did you try it? Did it work?
@@TheSimmpleTruth yes it worked best year for hydrangers ever have to do regularly through especially after rain fall
Very well presented and informative
I grew up in a self sustainable life.
For generations my family has scattered woodash around the plants to protect them from slugs.
The soil also benefits from the minerals in the ash
it works, however I no longer have access to wood ash. it was the best.
Also crushed egg shells help,let them dry out and then they crush better, scatter on plants ,they don't like pointy bits !|Soot helps too ,can't slither well
Helen Antrichan I tried eggshells and it actually attracted them! In the morning there were so many slugs crawling in and over the sharp bits and eating the shells like it was dessert!
thegoldenzipper did your slugs also have tattoos and a cig hanging out its mouth hahaha
Does not work when in tin layer, must be kind of heap, than watch out pH of soil
Thank you for your generosity, Tony !
My pleasure!
Thank you very much for sharing your knowledge. I will be using the 9 volt trick for sure.
Thats a golden nugget and can be used on a whole raised bed
Thanks Tony, brilliant!
Very welcome
i like to use the cinderblock-method. every time i see one of those sobs i throw a big cinderblock at it. however, this damages my salad so i'll try the wooden-board- and beer-methods now.
Good stuff lol dont smash your salad though lol
i love the idea for the potted plants, just ordered the copper tape, at least my potted plants will be safe this year
I've used diatomaceous earth food grade and it works, yes I have to repeat after a good rain but I like the no chemical approach .
Chemicals? Like H20? Or that dangerous e number E948? I do get what you mean, but the sweeping statement does no favours 😉
DE does work well for slugs
Simplify Gardening thank you- good to know!!
Good tip.Yes diatomaceous earth would dry up the ocean. It works on cat fleas, so slugs would have no chance.
Many thanks Tony, great tips. When I'm planting out a slug vulnerable crop I'll follow up for a couple of evenings and go out with a torch to pick slugs off those young plants. It takes time and isn't practical if you have growing areas away from home. But if you can do this it really helps when establishing vulnerable crops like climbing beans.
I have a few Hostas in my garden and they always get attacked when young , until the day i put coffee grannuals around my hosta plants
Yes Peter Coffee deserves a video of its own and why I didnt include it here
I've grown a couple of very large Hostas in 3ft high pots for four years now. The slugs never attack those Hostas, maybe because they are so high up off the ground? Also its a fantastic way to display the large varieties.
thank you for your tip it realy work for me aswel peter...by by to slugs
Thank you for telling us about the blue slug
pellets
I use horse hair that I save when my horse moults in the spring. I just surround the stem of any tender plants I plant out with it and it works a treat. When the plants are finished the hair just stays in the bed to decompose naturally. Works a treat.
Yes Hair is a great way to put them off
Country Life Crafts Hi, I don’t know if this is a silly question but would this also work with dog hair? I have three hairy pups..
@@lindamitchell6435 I think it would. Human hair works but we just don't moult enough!
rosfow thanks for getting back to me😊. I’ll start collecting my dogs hair now!
Hair does not decompose for hundreds of years it just must dissipate.
Hi, i really like how you thought us how to get rid off slugs.. in fact my partner bought a copper tape just now 50m and 12 slugs house to put beer in it. As we saw your slugs tips.. thank you.. I really have problems with sluggs, mostly night I go out at night to hunt slugs, that eating my Pakchoi, chinese cabbage, mustard leaves, spinach and others..
Nail them all before they lay eggs and you will have less next year too
I'm grateful for anyone sharing their slug/snail elimination tips! I use copper tape, around various-sized pots, depending on the size of the plant; I cut out the bottom of the pot, surround it with the tape, and plant the plant inside of the pot (that I've submerged into the soil a few inches). I don't have to use any battery; I've watched them try to cross the copper barrier and get all slimed and leave. That's my most effective method, and I get the copper tape fairly cheaply on ebay.
the other thing I do is to add hair; I get it from the beauty salon, clean it, then make a barrier all around the edges of the beds (I also do raised beds). Slugs hate to get tangled up in hair, so it seems to work, but I do have to also put a little "fence" around the veggies, so they don't just sprawl all over the ground, eventually covering the hair up and allowing access. I use tomato cages (which I get free from craigslist free site) to hold my cole crops and such up and out of the soil as they grow and get big, such that they don't also cover over the copper-lined pots. I install a drip/emitter system attached to the tops of the tomato cages so as to hold the watering system above the plants such that there's no "bridge" from that either.
You really have to get clever to avoid these buggers; I too don't believe in just killing them, but rather, preventing them from doing the damage to the things I want to eat.
Yes Hair is a great idea to use. I have found just plain copper is hit and miss but have never had an issue when using the 9v battery
@@simplifygardening oh! I do know that it's important to have at least 2 inches wide copper strips; I use a one-inch, then a half-inch space, then a half-inch and that usually does it.
If your not using a battery then the wider the better. if you are then it makes no difference
Are there downsides to introducing nematodes to your plant beds? Trying to protect hostas in Ohio.
Not these nematodes some varieties will feed on plants but this species only feeds on slugs
@@simplifygardening thank you so much for replying over a year after posting this video! Appreciate your content!
I cannot kill anything in my garden. So I go at night, collect all the slugs/snails and deposit them somewhere wild where they will continue to live their lives 🙂
Thats good if you can do that
It is not solving problem... Just forcing slugs on somebody else, untill they come to Your garden again, but 1000times plentyfull...
I used to catapult snails into the messy garden three doors down. lol.
@@PompeyChris71 now I know why the slug population was multiplying ten fold 😒
I hope you wear rubber gloves when you handle those slugs. Some have highly toxic pathogens in their slime that can make humans deathly ill for years, cause permanent neurological damage, and even kill some people.
They can even spread a form of meningitis to people: www.livescience.com/61957-teen-paralyzed-after-eating-slug.html
All produce should be thoroughly washed, to ensure that snail slime is removed from fresh produce, and that baby slugs or snails are not accidentally ingested.
Nice video. Good information on slugs .
Glad you enjoyed the video
Awesome update the rain certainly brings them out lost all 3 of my first lot of courgettes to them thank you for making these video's for us
Nothing worse Linda. but glad u have sorted that now :)
Hi Tony. I set some sweet peas for a customer and we used sharp sand around the display. Seemed to help keep the slugs off!
Yeah they dont like sharp sand at all. its sticks to them.Hows trick with you pal?
@@simplifygardening good thanks Tony. I'm finally learning how to edit my videos! LOL! How's you?
Its hard work isn't it. Creators have to be writers, planners, content creator, filmers, editors , seo professional, social media managers, and speakers. we wear many hats mate. it can be over whelming, but get good at one thing then move on to the next. Im now learning how to make my own courses and how to blog. Im must be doing ok at it i just ended up number 21 of the top 50 gardening blogs in the UK
Love the accent and presented with such earnest intent! Seriously though, I'm all for non-chemical approach
Hi Margie. Im glad you enjoyed the video
Margie Watson He’s from the Welsh valleys, maybe Maerdy, Ferndale, Aberdare ?
OUTSTANDING!! Thank you so very much Tony!
Great glad u found value in it. Pay particular attention to the nematodes
My first year gardening with my kids. Don't have a clue what I'm doing and snails and slugs have had EVERYTHING!!!!!!
get duck patrol.
Follow these tips and you wont have to worry again esp the nematodes
Thanks for your videos with all the knowledge and experience. Just wanted to add the use of diatomaceous earth, lime, Epson salt.
Thanks for the info Great tips
A great video. Some brilliant ideas. Need to try your nematode method. Take care. Nick
Oh nick once you do you will loveit
Where do you get one nematode infected slug ? You said one infected slug will infect 30 other slugs in the bucket in your diy nematode method.
very good advice, I would like to add the use of bramble branches around my vegetables.
That's a great idea!
Thanks Tony, I know this seems a little more work but I have made hoop houses with hinges on them with a tight mesh and up to now that's done the trick (2nd season)
Nigel thats a great way so you can open or close its your choice. Great stuff mate
@SLO MOre they are water piping that are placed over the vegetable area with a net over top to stop the butterflies etc getting in
Beautiful dragonflies and so beneficial will lay their eggs in still water of your pond. Cheers.
U R sensible n considerate 😇 Very eco conscious🌾🌿🐛🦋 🐦🐢👍👍👍
Thanks :)
I'm number 75 of your 1000 tone... big thumbs up for this highly informative and highly ethical presentation mate...
thank-you sir
Glad you enjoyed it Tony. Any of yours or the wise elf tips you wish to add?
wise old joe.. the elf, should be with us again on Sunday mate... namaste
guru m
@@simplifygardening
@@simplifygardening lol
@@thelittlefarmersfarm5706 Great stuff pal
Hi new subscriber, I've found coffee seems to deter younger slugs, going to get some coffee grounds from my local Starbucks & try that out, heard it's meant to work which is why I tried the coffee
Hey welcome to the channel. Sorry I didnt get notified of your message and just came across it. Yes Coffee grounds is a great deterrent. Oh and welcome to the channel :)
Used coffee grounds are low in caffeine. I have tried spraying plants that slugs like with room temperature coffee, and still saw some damage within a few hours of application. Either the caffeine volatilizes quickly or the concentration of caffeine in coffee is not high enough to deter slugs.
Very interesting 👌
Used coffee grounds around your plants also work well - they stick to the slugs which they don't like. They last a long time (don't dissolve) and are environmentally friendly.
Also helps to keep cats away, as they don't like the smell.
Great tips thanks
I did this and the slugs just ate the coffee grounds.
great options thanks
Thanks for the info! I'll be employing a lot of these methods. I didn't realize I needed a battery to make the copper tape effective. Makes sense! Great video!
You are welcome Supposedly it should work without but it doesnt, However with it works everytime. I had this working on a 12 x 4 bed for years and never had a slug in there
Hi Tony I just bought the containers from Oakland for potato growing how can I prevent slugs from crawling into the containers via the holes ?
Best solutions I have heard anywhere. Thank you. Will be using the nematodes.
Just the video I needed! Also you scarecrow is absolutely terrifying! 😂
lol thanks I glad you like my scarecrow he just turned 7 years old :)
in Sweden you can buy snailedges, thin metal sheets which you fastens with screws on your wooden raised bed , they go out and are bent 45 degr. The snail cant pass this, they fall down. I have hade no snails in these beds all summer. Great video!
Thats a great idea Sorry about the late reply, YT didn't let me know this comment was here and I just found it
I had zillions of slugs eating my ferns. I go out at night in the heavy rain with a flash light and when I see one I put a tiny bit of salt on it. Now I have many ferns and fewer slugs.
Great stuff Jane. just be careful the salt doesnt affect the ph of the soil
I USED TO DO THATTT!! OMG. Apparently the salt could make the soil barren.
i have not used the nematode method ,but shall certainly try it ,but i have / am using beer traps ,and milk .At the moment milk inside a trap seems to be more effective.
I can tell you a method that works perfecty for me: I build realy high raised beds (brest hight). I build it using sticks and robe. At the botom I put a lot of big logs and wood debree wit holes in it. Then I started layering with finer and finer material. On the to there is just earth. This acomplishes 2 things: inside my "heap" there is enough space for lizards to live in (specificaly Lacerta viridis). Those lizards eat snails. The secong effect is, that my snail eating ducks dont run over my gardenbed. The ducks eat every snail down there and the lizards eat all the egs and small snail that somehow managed to get past the ducks. The ducks cant eat my salad and lizards dont like it. If you build it like a keyhole garden, you dont even have to water. I figured that out by accident. Works splendetly and i dont even have to go on my knees. Cheers from Slovenia.
Excellent ideas for the community and adding the hugelkulture to it is cool too
@@simplifygardening Yes, its realy a combination of a hugelkultur and a keyhole garden. The big difference is that its biuild up like a raised bed with a lot of holes in it. So the lizards can crawl around. I build i that way just becouse I had no other material. I use it mainly for pumpkins and similar things that like high nitrogen content. I did not expect it would work out like this. It dubled my lizard population in one year. I cant find a slug in my garden. Of corse ducks are esential. They are much better then chicken. They do not destroy the soil. If you have space and also a slug problem, you should get ducks. They need a smal pond, but thats not a big hussle. Keep on gardening people. The world will need it (and by the world i realy mean humans - other liveforms will be fine without us)
Thank you. I live in Washington state and we have slugs. This is a good information and I will be using it.
Hope it helps you Katrina
I put copper pennys round my plants in pots and in the ground are they as effective ?
He missed the best slug control that is profitable too ! Duck patrol. Let the ducks in given plot once a week for few hours and they will inspect each plant and get rid of the slugs and thank you with nutricious eggs plus free fertliser too !
It was left out on purpose Dave, I have ducks and each time they are allowed in the garden they muller the lettuce and other tender plants, they wiped out a whole bed before. But they do great with the slugs, but to me I want the slugs gone to save my lettuce and then a duck comes and eats it. Also a lot of folks arnt allowed them in their gardens so I wanted to give methods that all can use
Cathy I have found copper penies, or copper as a rule ineffective wiithout the 9v battery. My mother used them last year old pennies so they were big and her hostas were ravaged
My garden was infested with slugs and snail before but now I do not see them at all. It all started when I started using organic fertilizer. I throw kitchen scrapes such as, onion peels, garlic peels, orange peels, lemon peels, eggshell, and other vegetable and fruit scrapes I intend throw away into a bucket. Fill it up with water, let it ferment for a week. And then pour cup into watering can dilute with water and water my vegetable garden, once a week. I did notice after using this method my vegetable was growing faster than normal but I did also notice slugs/snails disappearing from the garden.
Do you cover the bucket? Does it ferment naturally?
@@smas3256 yes, naturally
Thank you Tony. Great video. Slugs are an issue for me right now so this was a much needed video.
Your scarecrow makes me jump every time 😅😅, He does his job. 🌳🌳🌳🌻🌻🌻
LOL Anna. Worzel is keeping his eye on you ;)
@@simplifygardening 😱😂😂😂
@@Annie.xx-xx need a worzel emoji lol
Well dome Sir!
A lot of talk lately about the blue pellets, but there are 2 types. Metaldehyde pellets are the harmful ones, they'll poison birds frogs and hedgehogs, so they are about to be banned thankfully. However there are organically approved pellets, lighter blue, containing ferric phosphate, which doesn't kill the birds etc. I use those until my nematodes get to work, which can take a couple of weeks with a big slug population.
Yes Its great news they are being banned, I left it to just blue pellets due to the fact that Metaldehyde are usually the ones folks buy in cheap stores and therefore easier to use wool
You are an amazing human!
Thanks
Great advise on the slugs!! Followed the tips and I’ve not seen a single slug in my garden in over a week now!!
The issue I’m having is the moths or white butterfly’s are laying eggs and then my pak Choi is being demolished? Any advice on how t get rid of stop them laying the eggs??
Thanks
Thanks for the great video. I've been battling with slugs and snails for a while now, watching beautiful plants disappear before my eyes, but no longer! Trying the copper route, but without the power supply (for now) If I do use power it'll be 10,000 Volts (I'll fry the barstewards) Escargo anyone....
Thank you Tony for your priceless advice ,it was a pleasure watching your video and all the things you went through was amazing I love growing but I am now limited for space I am trying to get an allotment but they are hard to get as the waiting list is so long in London ,there are some near the Olympic park which isn't far from me I might get one when I am a 100 years old you never know your luck.
All the best Pat Flynn
I got 4 hedgehogs in my garden.. i builded 4 houses for them and i love them .. they are very cool. Not so much slug or snails, my friends are helping to keep them away (they are free to come and go). When it's raining i throw some of my food remains (vegetarian) in an other place where snails and slugs are and can stay.
You given a nice advice for ponds .. small animals and insects traped in there SHOULD be able to get out, nicely done.
Great tips David and so good you have all those hedgehogs living in your garden
Very informative but as I won't kill them its out with my wellies and a torch Namaste 😊
Might try the wool pellets though
If you dont wish to kill them the wool pellets will help you protect those, but so will the copper tape and battery without killing them
@@FaithJRB Yeah give them a try and you will find they will help
Thank you very much for your advice 👍🏼👍🏼👏👏👏
Thanks Maria
Thanks Tony, I never realised there was so many ways to keep the slugs down, and thus protecting your crops. I know you will have vast knowledge of slugs and snails being quite wet at in Wales often.I love the pond method, which gives your garden area some extra character , interesting to look at and the wild life benefits, cheers.
Cheers Cliff the pond was number one for a reason mate :)
Thank you 😊
You sound like a Cardiff lad? I don’t grow veg but I subbed as you cover many other garden topics 😊
Hey thanks appreciate your support. Yes I cover pretty much everything you can think of around those three subjects. Not far from Cardiff Im nr pontypridd
Cardiff you got to be joking mate, he's from up or near the rhonder , i'm sorry I have lived in wales all my life, and still struggle with spelling the place names, in fact my street name is in Welsh and I have to think twice when writing down my address , hey but I will not lose any sleep over it. happy gardening every one, and most of all stay safe. regards from a Barry boy,
Thanks Tony I love this video
A friend of mine realised that the blue pellets attract slugs. So he tipped some into his neighbours garden and hey presto, his was left alone 🤣
lol George. what a brilliant idea,
except they will kill their predators..... :(
loving the worzel gummiage
Cheers Anthony. I had to retire him after 10 years due to rot, but like old worzel he will rise from the ashes at some point
Great video Tony 👍 I’m using nematodes and copper tape. So far so good 🤞🏻
But something I’d like to ask is it normal to have loads of tiny flies in your compost bin? I haven’t composted before. Would appreciate any tips.
They are fruit flies and harmless but not particularly nice when you lift the lid so just make sure food waste is totally covered with a bit of soil or leaves, grass, cardboard paper etc.
Colette Hatley many thanks, will do that now. 👍
Yes you will get small flies but shouldnt be masses of them you need the wildlife to help with the decomposition process and I have a very in depth video coming for my 50k special so tune in for that too
So many excellent ideas as usual. I am building raised beds and will give your copper idea a go. I will also build a pond so thanks very much.
Sounds great! let me know how it does John
I used a slingshot, and sent them over to my neightbour. Worked just fine. No slugs for years.
Now I live in an appartment.
lol love that
Lol...😅😅😅
Thank you for your helpful advice.
Thank you for sharing your video. I have been trying to save our Hosta plants from slugs and snails. I am using old used coffee grounds, broken up eggshells, chopped up rosemary and crushed cloves mixed with water. I'm hoping these methods work.
Take a look at the hostas around the pond not a blemish on the leaves
Yes, I've read the same thing about broken up egg shells. Apparently slugs and snails don't like trying to cross the shells for some reason.
@@TombstoneHeart Loads of tests have proven this to be a myth
Very helpful and well presented sir. Thank you.
Thanks glad you enjoyed it😉
Go down beach . Get sea shells. Make a fire, get a tin . Shells in a tin lid on , cook carbon out of shell , 3 hour burn , cool down . Grap hand Fulls and sprinkle on soil, the dust is like glass and they hate it ,
Great tip there William, Thanks for adding that. Its not something I have tried maybe something to look at too
This is basically Diactomous earth can be bought cheaply in bulk
Im planting my first garden this year. Thank you for telling us about the blue pellets. I would never want to hurt wildlife. I would rather just not have a garden before doing something like that. I think the 2 methods I would use would be nematodes and the wool pellets.
Tony, I ❤ loved this video, we have slugs too, but I'm not sharing my Beer 🍺🤣
lol Suzy, better try some of the other methods then lol
Try sugar water.
@@sarahstrong7174 Yes Sugar water will work but it will also trap bees trying to get the syrup
@@simplifygardening Ah. DO NOT USE SUGAR WATER. SAVE THE BEES.
Great tips on slug control Tony,dried crushed egg shells scattered around the beds works well,slugs don't like crawling over the sharp bits of shell
Great tips David
i have a team of highly trained hedgehog's for hire, they will eat all of your slug's. :)
Gary thats perfect and why bringing wildlife in to the garden is the number one thing you should do
Can they do formation dancing?
@@sarahstrong7174 Ring leaders name is spike lol
Sadly hedgehogs are in short supply ,the poor things get run over ,
Helen Antrichan They literally don't exist in London. It's a shame our urban foxes don't seem keen on slugs, too busy screaming all night long I suppose!