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Post by stigofthedump on Jun 10, 2015 9:54:26 GMT
Hi all.
After a long yearly battle between slugs and the Stigs we have finally won. We had tried every trick to no avail until we found a nematode solution. Great.
Its now time for a second application and I find myself a bit reluctant. You see we have no slugs or snails, not even in the compost bin. Are we doing more harm than is acceptable?
The question I pose is, are we to apply the second application or give the slug and snails a chance?
Vince
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Post by rowanberry on Jun 11, 2015 20:42:23 GMT
I hadn't heard of nematodes before, and had to google them. Do the instructions say what will happen if you don't do a second application?
I have noticed that after a slug population explosion back during the unseasonable warm spell, the cooler weather we've been having recently seems to have caused them to vanish again.
Could it be that the colder temps have had as much of an effect on your slugs as the nematodes?
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Post by alf1951 on Jun 12, 2015 3:39:18 GMT
I treated our garden slugs & snails with nematodes quite a few years ago - don't remember doing more than one application (but then I don't remember much these days!) - the effects were amazing and lasted quite a few years as I recall. These days I don't bother. It's the snails rather than the slugs that do most of the damage here (especially to my hostas) - by and large the slugs are busy recycling decaying material rather than healthy growth.
I get more enjoyment out of wildlife than plants these days. Song thrushes do a reasonable job on the bigger snails and I can live with a few tatty leaves here and there (I don't grow veg). I also tried nematodes for control of vine weevil - not nearly as effective and an expensive waste of time. There is a chemical control that works on them but I very rarely use it as it kills lots of other invertebrates too. Anyway, vine weevil seem less of a problem locally in recent years.
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Post by stigofthedump on Jun 12, 2015 6:51:50 GMT
I hadn't heard of nematodes before, and had to google them. Do the instructions say what will happen if you don't do a second application? I have noticed that after a slug population explosion back during the unseasonable warm spell, the cooler weather we've been having recently seems to have caused them to vanish again. Could it be that the colder temps have had as much of an effect on your slugs as the nematodes? Just says 'for continued protection' additional applications will be required. I never thought about the slug population in general being at a low ebb. food for thought though.
I think we have decided to leave any more applications out this year and monitor the situation. If all goes well next year we will apply once to give the plants a chance.
Thanks for your thoughts on it.
Vince
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Post by stigofthedump on Jun 12, 2015 6:59:31 GMT
I treated our garden slugs & snails with nematodes quite a few years ago - don't remember doing more than one application (but then I don't remember much these days!) - the effects were amazing and lasted quite a few years as I recall. These days I don't bother. It's the snails rather than the slugs that do most of the damage here (especially to my hostas) - by and large the slugs are busy recycling decaying material rather than healthy growth. I get more enjoyment out of wildlife than plants these days. Song thrushes do a reasonable job on the bigger snails and I can live with a few tatty leaves here and there (I don't grow veg). I also tried nematodes for control of vine weevil - not nearly as effective and an expensive waste of time. There is a chemical control that works on them but I very rarely use it as it kills lots of other invertebrates too. Anyway, vine weevil seem less of a problem locally in recent years. I did think it would only take one application. Apparently it should be applied every 6-8 weeks, continued revenue per chance? We did like to watch the thrushes play their part with the slugs and snails, unfortunately new neighbours with their cats moved in and we no longer encourage birds to visit.
Cheers for your input Alf.
Vince
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Post by NellyDee on Jun 12, 2015 9:56:34 GMT
I think cold weather has a lot to do with it, slugs started to appear in short (3-4) days of warm weather, the temperatures dropped alarmingly - no slugs. The are just starting to appear again. I have the odd situation of the hosta grown in tub with copper band around, gets attacked by slugs, but the one growing merrily in open ground in the garden does not. Been wracking my brain as to a reason. Only thing I can come up with is the tub one is in a bought compost and the one in open ground is in peat/rocky mossy soil.
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Post by Deleted on Jun 12, 2015 11:40:22 GMT
I agree that the nematodes do work, but they do need to be applied regularly and correctly, and some of what they require is difficult to control, like cool, damp weather.
On my allotment they worked well for a few weeks.
In dry weather a cheap alternative was a granule barrier around vulnerable plants, available from the 99p Store.
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Post by stigofthedump on Jun 12, 2015 17:50:38 GMT
I think cold weather has a lot to do with it, slugs started to appear in short (3-4) days of warm weather, the temperatures dropped alarmingly - no slugs. The are just starting to appear again. I have the odd situation of the hosta grown in tub with copper band around, gets attacked by slugs, but the one growing merrily in open ground in the garden does not. Been wracking my brain as to a reason. Only thing I can come up with is the tub one is in a bought compost and the one in open ground is in peat/rocky mossy soil. Thanks Nelly. Going to keep the cold weather idea in mind for next year. As for your hostas, them there blooming slugs are a worthy adversary.
Vince |
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Post by stigofthedump on Jun 12, 2015 17:57:19 GMT
I agree that the nematodes do work, but they do need to be applied regularly and correctly, and some of what they require is difficult to control, like cool, damp weather. On my allotment they worked well for a few weeks. In dry weather a cheap alternative was a granule barrier around vulnerable plants, available from the 99p Store. Cheers Deb. I have to admit I'm starting to think the weather might have had a part to play in this.
Anyway cheers for the advice re the granule barrier, we did try it....never worked for us. Maybe We were not thorough enough. We tried all sorts, baring witchcraft 
Cheers again
Vince |
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Post by teasel on Jun 12, 2015 21:29:17 GMT
A friend of mine was recommended sheeps wool, apparently the lanolin deters the slugs. Unfortunately her dog thought it was a new game so she hasn't really tested the theory yet  |
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Post by dogghound on Jun 28, 2015 21:18:12 GMT
Any risk of them spreading into the local mollusc population? sounds very dodgy to me. Ecologically slugs are a hugely important species group which are far more complex than the few species which feed on garden plants.
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Post by stigofthedump on Jun 29, 2015 13:33:29 GMT
Any risk of them spreading into the local mollusc population? sounds very dodgy to me. Ecologically slugs are a hugely important species group which are far more complex than the few species which feed on garden plants. You purchase the nematodes by an area squared coverage, so you are eradicating them for a specific area. If many connected sites treated their land, who knows what the effect it would have on the mollusc population as a whole. Hence my original question. We have decided not to use the product again, it just didn't sit right with us. Vince |
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Post by shirl100 on Jun 30, 2015 15:55:56 GMT
Ecologically slugs are a hugely important species group which are far more complex than the few species which feed on garden plants. Completely agree, although they are not very "cuddly" they are part of the garden ecosystem, I plant double the amount of veg we need, half for them (and the snails) and half for us. They in turn provide food for our hedgehogs, shrews, frogs, toads etc so they are really important. Shirl |
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