In recent years, I’ve had no problem with slugs and snails eating my plants. However, this rainy June has brought them out in force.
Now that the bluebells have finished, I’ve removed all the dead foliage from the back border I built up last winter. And sown some mizuna, which if the sun doesn’t come out for an extended period soon will probably get mown down by the molluscs. Still, you never know!
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About Helen
I have always been interesting in living a more environmentally friendly lifestyle and used to do what I could. Now, I have come to realise that we have reached such a point in terms of environmental degradation that it is more important - perhaps - to focus on building resilience. I therefore do as much as I can to reuse, grow my own and encourage a supportive community, for example. I also keep reading and learning all the time.
Growing out of chaos 
Slugs are my main problem, though we get snails too. I used chrushed egg shells around delicate plants till they get established. Doesn’t always work (slugs still managed to get to courgette plants this year).
Yes, the crushed eggshells method hasn’t protected my globe artichoke. There are two leaves left, so fingers crossed it will make it. Have you got any courgette plants left?
Yes a couple but they have all suffered damage
Oh no! Hopefully, they will recover
I have also found the crushed eggshells to only work partly. Maybe you need two little mini-ducks for the pond? They’ll get rid of the snails alright, but they make a mess!
They would eat the rest of the garden, wouldn’t they 😊
To fight off the slugs, I used to mix ammonia with water and douse around the base of the plants. If you do this early in the spring, like when the hostas first begin to appear, this supposedly kills the eggs they have laid. It seemed to work!
That’s interesting, Becky. Thank you!
You’re welcome!
They’re MUCH lighter on the garden than chickens, but they would nibble at some green stuff here and there. If your garden is large, you won’t notice it, but if it’s very small and delicate you would notice it – and you can’t really keep only one duck either, they need company.
I’ve not heard of these birds before but we’re not allowed to keep any kind of livestock on our properties, so it’s not something I could consider. The garden itself might cope with two such birds, with it being mostly trees and green manure.
Maybe that’s why we have been more aware off slugs this year
Yes, it could be
I did a test for slug protection methods s few years ago (https://skyeent.wordpress.com/2017/05/03/slug-protection-test/) eggshells didn’t work for me at all. Hoops made from cut down plant pots were a bit effective – they also help a bit in stopping the cats using the courgette plants as a bed!
I’ve used cut down plastic bottles before, which seem to work. Funny how possibilities just slip my mind… but I will put a collar round the globe artichoke asap and dig out the copper tape for good measure. I think if you cut the edges of the tape to make a fringe it provides extra protection.
Worth a try. I think that they tend to go round rather than over, but it may work better where the soil is relatvely damp like here of course.
Yes, round is what I was thinking. The soil might still be wet here, too 😊
Since I now get my milk in glass bottles, I might have to do a bit of rummaging to find a suitable container to cut up (trying to avoid using a viable pot) but I think my shed holds a few for such occasions.