Slug deterrents around hostas used in water gardening situations

If hostas are in containers it is easier to preserve them against the only real problem that hostas have. This problem is such that it is probably one of the main reasons that the British become so dismayed with hostas. The day we first proudly place our newly acquired hosta becomes the precursor to the morning that we become starkly aware that we share this country with an enormous population of molluscs.

Molluscs, Slugs and Snails ... love hostas here's why

Hostas enjoy any moisture retentive soil, enriched with plenty of organic matter especially leaf-mould. Some shade is generally appreciated during the day especially by the variegated varieties. Don’t plant them in the pool, they may survive, but only just.

Plant at any frost-free time from October to March spacing plants at least half a metre apart to allow plenty of room to spread over time. Hostas only gain their full characteristics as a clump matures in its 4th or 5th year.

For inexperienced gardeners this can be utterly disheartening and turns many nature lovers into hardened killers of slugs and snails. You will usually find that the true hosta lover will quite uninhibitedly resort to every possible deterrent and pest control available and all at the same time.

Certain thick leaved hosta varieties like ‘Sum and Substance’ or ‘Frances Williams’ are fairly slug resistant which is enough to supply the traditional herbaceous perennial border with the necessary foliage effects. In our garden we have the ultimate police force in operation in the form of a pair of Khaki Campbell ducks out on slug patrol every day.

SLUG DETERRANTS IN ORDER OF EFFECTIVENESS

• Natural predators and garden husbandry. Going out at night with a torch and picking them up and putting them in a bucket of salt water is more effective than any amount of slug bait. Birds are particularly good at giving a hand, especially thrushes and ducks. So discourage cats. Encourage hedgehogs and toads.
• Physical deterrents – gravel mulches, sand, crushed egg shells, hair soot are all effective to a certain extent. Hostas in pots can have Vaseline or copper or aluminium tape around the rims. Sections of plastic pot or bottles around young plants helps.
• Biological control – Nematodes in a spray applied to the ground around are extremely effective for about 6 weeks but are limited by the weather and need time to show results.
• Chemicals – Last resort. Slug pellets based on metaldehyde are less toxic too wildlife than methiocarb. Aluminium sulphate based although claimed to be harmless to other species does not seem particularly effective against determined slugs.
• Beer or milk in ‘Slug Pubs’ can play their part in diverting a few wayward types but often accidentally catch a lot of the very useful ground beetles.
• A bund of Australian kaolinite and opal powder around precious individuals is only effective until it gets very wet.

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