I moved my pots on top of the garage roof until I know all of the frosts have passed

==>>> can i hear about this theory?????

ken

Ha sorry ken, it made sense in my head.

All my pots were in the garage over winter now I have brought them out and stuck them on the roof of the garage for a while just so I can move them back in or cover them if a frost is forecast.

when the frosts have passed I will plant them and place them properly around the garden.

arent you concerned.. the roof will get hot in sun and.. wait.. what am i thinking.. what do you have in GB.. like 6 sunny days per year.. lol ..

anyway ... i know you are z8 ... but i do things to retard early sprouting in spring ...... the roof seems contrary to that ...

ken

I thought you were going to say that you put them up there as the rough surface of the roofing shingles would keep the slugs away....which I think it would.

And a wall won't stop them, with giants like that! Lolz

In true slug and snail country nothing stops them except poison. Not height, eggshells or cursing. Look away now if you are of a nervous disposition. I put down the bait too late ....

Oh floral that is a sad sight - a true slug fest. I feel for you and the poor hosta.

What a difference slug bait makes! In 2013 I had holes/chew marks in my hostas...last year I spread slug bait around and barely had a tiny hole on maybe one or two leaves! I used about 1 1/2 containers = approx. $27. My reward was unmarred hostas right through until approaching dormancy.

I also thought the slug/snail population wasn't as heavy as the year before. I can't say with certainty whether the very cold, lengthy winter played a part or whether it was the pellets, but perhaps both? If I want beautiful hostas, this is one maintenance chore I can't forgo!

What's that ammonia drench thing? 10 percent solution and drench the pips in spring?

Kathy

They WILL come. I think hostas taste like chocolate to them. ;-)

Jo, yes I have noticed that after using iron phosphate (Sluggo or generic) it really works, and if used consistently, over a several years, I've noticed a major drop in slugs/snails here where they are a year around problem. Now I use the Sluggo Plus which gets those vine weevils too that notch the leaves. Do you get those?

-Babka

Yes, a 10% solution early in spring, repeated until leaves unfurl. Last year I did it twice only. This solution is said to kill the eggs as well.

Hi, Babka! No, I can't say I've seen any vine weevils around here but I'll keep an eye out in any case. They are ugly, aren't they? We have pill bugs, grubs, leather jackets, but the last two eat grass roots. The pill bugs also eat the slug pellets. That population seems to have decreased as well, whew!

10% ammonia to water mix, that's it?!? :)

I don't trust slug baits only kill slugs. Although its rare dogs ingest the iron phosphates my chow hound will try to eat anything at least once... And I'm not convinced its safe for the birds that eat the slugs. Or even earthworwms? I will live with unsightly hosta unless I can find a better way than bait... Not happily but I will :/

My slugs die happy. I use beer poured into small cans sunk into the soil with a bit of the lip above ground level. That way beneficial ground beetles and the like do not fall in.

I wait until I see the first sign of slug activity before I set the beer out (why draw them if they are not present.) I do not have a huge problem with slugs so this works well for me.

I know many people don't believe this but I don't have much of a slug problem at all. Many years ago I did and the beer can solution worked very well. Ammonia, in addition to killing slugs and other pests (aphids, etc,) also helps convert nitrites into nitrates and fertilize hosta (or any other plants. No possibility of poisoning pets, birds....or yourself. The only cautions are that it has to be sprayed under foliage and it only kills on contact and it has to be repeated (as with anything) as you will never kill all the slugs in the area and can only hope to keep your garden clear by regular spraying. Keep an eye out and if you see them or damage from them it is time to spray again.

Schematic link.

1. I have drowned some with beer, I have applied the ammonia solution a few attempts and now read that ashes from wood will deter slugs and voles so I will give this or all a try too. Another thing I heard was last season was sprinkling diatomaceous Earth (food grade from health food store) for slug control . I may have to try each in different areas to see what works best . Have any of you tried some of these with success? I don't have near the problem as Myrle does