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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
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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"The Perfect Pond Recipe Book"
...
best practical book ever on DIY landscaping a pond
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This is Peter May in his working clothes and below after a day's pond
solving & a couple of drinks
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