Slugs and salt

[jonc]

The slugs came out in force this afternoon, and fed up with my veggies getting smaller by the day I put salt on a couple to stop them in their tracks. I then had a thought that this probably wasn't the best idea in terms of the soil. Could this cause any imbalances or issues with the soil?

[Pilsbury]

I think the amount needed to melt a slug is unlikly to harm the soil too much unless you have a MASSIVE slug/snail problem.
I often go out in prime slug weather ( Drizzle at dusk) and eradicate all i can find with a salt pot. the other option is to take a bucket out with you, collect them all up then just season the bucket. You could probably film that scean and sell it to some horror film maker though, 60 slugs melting in a bucket.

[greenbean]

I have to say I much as I absolutely hate slugs, I think dying a slow death by salt melt is just awful, I prefer to go out with a pair of sharp scissors and cut the b*stards in half, try to do it nearer the head, as otherwise, they can sometimes go on slugging minus their back end (just for a few minutes), which is really horrible to witness.

[PurpleDragon]

I think I must be soft. I absolutley hate slugs, but I can't kill them, and so go out with a wee pot, pick them all off, then go throw them in the weeds. If they're hungry they can eat those! I reckon at a slugs pace it must take them at least a week to work their way back to the plot.

[wulf]

Unfortunately, I think that if you watched the slugs you'd find out they don't really like most of the weeds (many of which have built in defences) and will make their way pretty quickly back to your veg.

I don't try hunting for slugs and snails in every corner of the garden but, when I do find them, a sharp knife or pointy stick will be used to turn them from plant feeders into plant food. Mind you, for some reason, this year has actually not been at all bad for slugs and snails in my garden!

Wulf

[jonc]

I must admit, I did feel slightly bad for a moment, but the sight of half eaten plants soon stops it

[PurpleDragon]

What are slugs for, anyway?

[Chickpea]

They're a delicacy for chickens.

[wulf]

Apart from their role as food (but not in our part of the food chain!) they help break down decaying matter.

Wulf

[dibnah]

not all slugs attack veg some are just interested in rotting stuff but I could not tell you which is which. Snail are the the majority in my garden the little ba****ds I must admit I don't kill them but I do teach them to fly.

[Shirley]

Ahhh we were talking about slugs that were 'good' at our Neeps! meeting.... if anyone knows more about these good slugs it would be interesting - don't want to zap the goodies.

[Muddypause]

According to Bill Oddie on one of his Springwatch programmes, the black slugs are OK, it's the brown and grey ones that do all the damage. Except I might have that the wrong way round.

[Chickpea]

That's really helpful. Thnaks a lot Stew.

[Andy Hamilton]

I will second that it is the big black ones that should be left alone as they don't do much damage http://www.gardenaction.co.uk/technique ... /slugs.htm

for more tips on getting rid of slugs have a look at on our comprehensive list http://www.selfsufficientish.com/forum/ ... sc&start=0

[greenbean]

Never mind the slugs, I am now worried about Shirlz going to a 'Neeps' meeting, just how long can you talk about neeps for?