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slug pellets on beechgrove
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Message 1.Ìý
Posted by voddydod (U3141441) on Wednesday, 22nd June 2011
I was glad when jim pointed out the blue slug pellets lying on the ground next to the emerging salad leaves.
I also use them around newly growing hosta leaves and newly planted small bedding plants.................. -
Message 2
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Wednesday, 22nd June 2011
Don't worry it is nothing to be ashamed of- or is it????
I do not see anything wrong with using chemicals,where all else fails,providing used sparingly and according to manufactures instructions.
I will now stand by for all the flak !!
Geoff
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Message 3
Posted by novicedippychick (U9694696) on Wednesday, 22nd June 2011
Geoff why would you get any flak, I use slug pellets, the organic one mind you, but I do use it, I bet there are lots of people out there that use it but won't admit it, I think we take this totally organic gardening too far!!!!
I do use seaweed feed and I get and use horse manure, do my own compost but there should be a place for some chemicals as long as they are not harmful to the wildlife.
NDC
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Message 4
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
I use the organic slug pellets too. I read that they don't harm wildlife as they kill the slugs in such a way as to leave them unpalettable to other creatures ( and hedgehogs eat live slugs anyway )
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Message 5
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
Geoff why would you get any flak, I use slug pellets, the organic one mind you, but I do use it, I bet there are lots of people out there that use it but won't admit it, I think we take this totally organic gardening too far!!!!
I do use seaweed feed and I get and use horse manure, do my own compost but there should be a place for some chemicals as long as they are not harmful to the wildlife.
NDCÌý
With you on this one- its a war out there and you have to use everything in your arsenal-if the troop of friendly creatures let you down and dont destroy the enemy then you have to send in the storm- troopers to finish the job.
What amazes me is the people who have a real issue with using a chemical as if it is a bad thing- in the modern world I believe these are perfectly safe or they wouldn't be available for sale to gardeners-and where is the organic weed- killer spray?
I do remember insecticides from years ago that stated on the label do not consume produce within 28 days of spraying - heavens know what was in this stuff-and there was a clip of dear old Percy Thrower on GW in the 1970's spraying his roses with some dust that went everywhere- all this was quite normal behaviour! Was it sodium chlorate that was freely on sale-this is lethal stuff.
We have thankfully moved on but let us get things in perspective- there is room for a complete organic gardener- if that is what you want- fine-but can I continue to be organic and non-organic as well- using a chemical when needed and not feel guilty as if I have just run over next doors puppy!
Geoff -
Message 6
Posted by BertieGFox (U14917352) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
On what basis do you say that slugs and snails killed by metaldehyde pellets are unpalatable to other creatures?
One of the major factors in the declines of garden birds such as thrushes are directly down to the use of slug pellets. The birds pick up the dead or dying slugs and swallow them. They don't taste them like we do.
If you have ever had to pick up the bodies of birds poisoned by pellets then you wouldn't make such casual posts.
The best way to avoid this, if you MUST use pellets is to place them under a receptacle not accessible to birds (not just on the ground around plants) and to remove the bodies of the dying and poisoned slugs and snails as soon as possible.
Quite apart from the harm to birds though, just think of the suffering and agony you are causing to these molluscs, which can be so easily dealt with humanely in so many other ways.
We should treat all life with respect, even when it is eating our flowers or vegetables.
If I can successfully garden on 2 hectares of plot where we live, in this way, then I am sure any gardener can do the same. -
Message 7
Posted by garyhobson (U11055016) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
...If I can successfully garden on 2 hectares of plot where we live, in this way, then I am sure any gardener can do the same.Ìý
I have quite a large garden and I don't find any need to use dangerous chamicals.
Natural predators control most of my slugs. If I do get some trouble, usually on specific plants, than I pop out after dark and remove the culprits. It's easy and reliable.
Chemical applicatons are UNSAFE if they are not applied according to the manufacturers instructions. That is, not more that 1 pellet per 10 cm.
I wonder how many people put down a high density, even piles of pellets, thinking that this will make the pellets more portent. It is dangerous and irresponsible.
And I wonder how many people actually pay the premium to buy the less toxic organic varieties.
In my opnion, it's just laziness.
Incidentally, metaldehyde is used for slug control by many farmers (applied 'correctly' at manufacturers' recommended levels).
However, it leaches into the soil, and makes its way into the human water supply. Some of us are probably drinking it. More:
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Message 8
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
I agree with you and I meant to say this in my post that chemicals in accordance with the manufactures instructions are safe - the problem is that people dont read the instructions and think that more of everything will get a quicker result- I am not advocating that.
As regards slugs it is whatever works for you- and in response to the earlier post I'm sorry but I can't empathize over a slugs suffering.................
Geoff -
Message 9
Posted by mahintali (U14746271) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
I have over 15 hosta plants and I don't use any pellets etc.
They are all very healthy and going bonkers in my garden.
I can't believe that there are people out there who put down slug pellets.
We are supposedly the superior race compared with all life forms, surely you can use a bit of intelligence to sort out the slug / snail problem.
There are loads of ideas to get this sorted - eg go to Pippa Greenwood's website, she uses cheap hen feed supplement which is grit based, and puts it around her plants. I have no problems, since I went organic, and the right balance seems to have been reached, via frogs, lizards, birds etc.
My BIG prob is the rabbit population, but I am lucky enough to afford to put up a metre high fence....and use a humane trap to sort out the blighters who got in before the fence got put up! Please try to just pause and have a think rather than to reach for the chemicals. -
Message 10
Posted by cufcskim (U14483815) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
- in the modern world I believe these are perfectly safe or they wouldn't be available for sale to gardeners-and where is the organic weed- killer spray?Ìý
Many chemicals/products have been 'perfectly safe in this modern world', can I interest you in some DDT?
Asbestos is also organic by the way. A big bug bear when it comes to listening to the constant whine of the 'it's natural, it's therefore best' brigade.
The main problem is the indiscriminate, overuse of products that are inappropriate or overkill for the job. People all to easily reach for the sledge hammer when thumb pressure is sufficient. -
Message 11
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
- in the modern world I believe these are perfectly safe or they wouldn't be available for sale to gardeners-and where is the organic weed- killer spray?Ìý
Many chemicals/products have been 'perfectly safe in this modern world', can I interest you in some DDT?
Asbestos is also organic by the way. A big bug bear when it comes to listening to the constant whine of the 'it's natural, it's therefore best' brigade.
The main problem is the indiscriminate, overuse of products that are inappropriate or overkill for the job. People all to easily reach for the sledge hammer when thumb pressure is sufficient.Ìý But that is what I am saying- so are we in agreement? -
Message 12
Posted by thevodkarose (U13048111) on Thursday, 23rd June 2011
I think some people are getting their nickers in a twist without knowing what they're banging on about.
Orangic slug pellets, also coloured blue, are based on ferric phosphate, NOT the wildlife harming metaldehyde. -
Message 13
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Friday, 24th June 2011
Perxactly!!
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Message 14
Posted by blueberry77 (U14703896) on Friday, 24th June 2011
"If I can successfully garden on 2 hectares of plot where we live, in this way, then I am sure any gardener can do the same."
Absolutely, I have never had 2 hectares but even in a more modest space it doesn't take long for the freindly predators to build up, and along with a few sensible management strategies and the "slug problem" is greatly reduced -
Message 15
Posted by thevodkarose (U13048111) on Friday, 24th June 2011
I don't think anyone would disagree that covering a garden in slug pellets would be a bad idea.
However, directed use organic methods around things like seedlings are needed IMHO, especially in newer gardens until it's own mini-ecosystem establishes. Especially in smaller town gardens where there are a lot less natural predators. -
Message 16
Posted by blueberry77 (U14703896) on Sunday, 26th June 2011
But in a small town garden it's not too much of a chore to go out and look behind stones and pots, or at night with a torch pick them up and get rid of them.
It is quite effective. -
Message 17
Posted by voddydod (U3141441) on Sunday, 26th June 2011
Its all very well saying its not much of a chore to go out and pick up slugs , i work offshore on a 2 on 2 off rotation , so i have to use them or bedding plants would be gone .
Its too much cost for me not to............... -
Message 18
Posted by thevodkarose (U13048111) on Sunday, 26th June 2011
That's all well and good, but that only gets the slugs you find. Miss just one and in a night a row of lettuce seedlings are gonners.
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Message 19
Posted by martingodliman (U13761957) on Monday, 27th June 2011
If I didn't use slug pellets I would lose a lot of stuff, even I was prepared to go out with a torch and crawl about looking I would be sure to miss some.
My interest in gardening is set hard against the time I can spend doing it, I struggle to get out there enough as it is to get my stuff going so I cannot be casually philosophical about losses I can avoid.
I cant imagine some one growing stuff for a living being so organically evangelical. -
Message 20
Posted by thedogcody (U14659366) on Tuesday, 28th June 2011
This idea of going out at night and searching for slugs etc by looking under stones and pots is all well and good but I trust you patrol the whole area,all the other gardens, and are not spotted by your neighbours, because as someone else, has said if you miss one they will be in there.
In reply to the poster on poisoned birds unless you are a forensic scientist you have no idea what these birds died of do you?
Why are some organic gardeners so holier than thou-let me do my thing and you do yours- but please don't preach and tell me this way is better than that way- it ain't necessarily so !
Geoff -
Message 21
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Tuesday, 28th June 2011
I've often wondered where birds go to die. Our garden is large and surrounded on two sides by arable fields with no insect life and then boggy pasture on another which has pregnant beef cattle and a stream so plenty of insects.
Our house and garden are bird central when it comes to nesting in the eaves, barn or hedge as well as offering a multiplicity of feeders and insects in the ornamental garden which also attract birds from nearby woodland and yet I never find a dead bird except the rare occasion when a nestling falls out and dies.
I've used the ferrous based slug pellets in moderation ever since they appeared on the market. I don't use any sprays on roses or veggies as I find the birds I attract with feeders all year round take all the greenfly and caterpillars for their babies.
It's been so dry this year we've had very little trouble with slugs anyway. -
Message 22
Posted by Lowena (U14575314) on Tuesday, 28th June 2011
My garden is in a very similar situation to yours Obelixx
I have often wondered the same thing :/
My garden has several dry stone walls in it, a haven for slugs and snails.As mentioned, the dry spring means we have had hardly any problems,but I use pellets sparingly and stand by the fact that they do not ( in the main) hurt other creatures - because they don't eat dead slugs. -
Message 23
Posted by thevodkarose (U13048111) on Tuesday, 28th June 2011
Oh I agree with the lack of slugs and snails this year. I've only had to use ferrous pellets once.
What I have seen in the past few days when gardening are lots of baby slugs, probably just hatched because of the rain. I'm not too fussed if they want to have a go at my borders - at this time of year there's plenty of lush growth to go around -
Message 24
Posted by Obelixx (U2157162) on Tuesday, 28th June 2011
Except that those baby slugs will feast on any soft new growth and then get big enough to make babies to eat all your treasures next spring.
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Message 25
Posted by thevodkarose (U13048111) on Tuesday, 28th June 2011
Nothing out of the ordinary then.
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