Dog Friendly Slug Pellets

[bambino chicino]

Hi all,

With Summer coming soon and hubby and I being big fans of potching about in the garden, Im concerned about buying slug pellets this year.
It will be Charlie's first Summer and he, like most dogs, cannot tell what is and what is not a flower bed! Some of them are ground level, some are raised beds but that makes no difference to young Charles as he is happy to explore them all!!
I do tend to lean more towards buying longer lasting plants now such as shrubs so there is less need for slug pellets but we have tender plants like geums starting to bud from last year that we need to protect.
Can anyone offer advice as I am not putting anything down that will pose even a tiny threat to Charlie.
Oh, and bug spray too, I use that on the roses and Im sure Charlie will see me spraying that and think "Oooh, Mummy is giving me a new treat!" x x

[Countrygirl]

I stopped putting slug pellets down when we got Ellie, it just isn't worth the risk.

What I do now is buy cheap beer and go out when it goes dark with a torch, a small plastic bucket (like what children make sandcastles with) with some beer in it and a trowel, search out the slugs and dunk them in the beer where they get drunk and drown happily. 

Have to tell you though my record is 110 in one night.  It is unbelievable how many more you get this way than you ever get with slug pellets.

The neighbours have got used to me now as I also search the pavement outside our house for the ones that are on their way into my garden!

OH thinks I am mad, but then again he is no gardener! 

The only downside is the looks I get in the supermarket when I am piling cheap economy beer into my trolley!

[BobnDot]

Alternatively sink a few jam jars into the soil so that the neck is level with the soil level and then pour an inch of beer into the bottom of the jar.

Charlie shouldn't be able to reach the beer but any slugs will be drawn to the smell, fall into the beer and die happy. Empty the jar out every day then replace and prime with more beer.

Siting a bird feeder close to the plants can be effective as the birds will enjoy any slugs they come across when looking for dropped seeds.

Slugs don't like crossing copper and there are self adhesive copper strips available to stick around the edges of pots and planters.

Builders sharp sand or crushed eggshells sprinkled on the soil around plants can help as well but sometimes isn't very effective.

For the ultimate feel good factor a dog style ball chucker can also come in handy to send slugs into low earth orbit, ideally with the landing point aimed towards the gardens of any anti-dog neighbours you may have  .

Bob.

[PennyB]

I stopped putting slug pellets down when we got Ellie, it just isn't worth the risk.

me too and I often try to pick them off

[bambino chicino]

I seem to remember my Grandad doing something with slugs and beer when I was a kid so readin the advice brought back some funny childhood memories tee hee.

Would you advise sighting several glasses/jars of beer in one flower bed or do the slugs not mind doing a bit of a crawl to just the one?

Im still learning my knowlegde of gardening as its only really become a hobby since my hubby and I got married so I might do some research on plants that dont require slug pellets instead of trying to find dog friendly cures. Of course, he wont have much chance of getting into tall plant pots so thats a plan too!

110 slugs in one night? Wow thats a ridiculous amount! Do you have to do the search again the following night?

x x

[butterflywings21]

I used Richard Jackson Slug pellets I buy them from QVCUK.COM
This is what the info on the pack says...Richard Jackson's Slug & Snail Control 1.2kg Advanced Formula. These safer slug pellets are made from naturally occuring ferric phosphate and if used as directed pose no threat to pets, birds, hedgehogs, worms, bees and other useful insects. Keep your outdoors spaces free from annoying slugs and snails with these superb pellets

[Countrygirl]

If I went out every night at about 11 p.m. in the summer I would find slugs.  110 was my record, to be fair some nights I will only find about 8.  But every night they will be there.  I wouldn't mind but next door but one to me is a totally overgrown garden where they could chomp to their hearts delight, but they seem to prefer my garden. 

I also sink large yoghurt pots into the soil with some beer in the bottom, if I don't go out some nights (and to be fair some nights I just can't be bothered) then there will be loads of slugs in them in the morning.  I usually put at a couple in each flower bed, but don't worry once the slugs get a whiff of beer they will travel.

I have been known, on warm balmy summer nights, to hover around the yoghurt pots to catch the slugs on their way in.  That way there is more room for the ones who will visit once I have gone to bed.

I know, I am sad.  As I said before, OH thinks I am mad. 

I can remember once trying Bargain Booze to see if they had any cheap beer.  As I seemed to be spending quite a time checking the beer shelves, the manager came to ask me if he could help.  I told him I was looking for the cheapest beer he had.  He looked a bit surprised so then I told him what I wanted it for.  Bless him, he went into the back and came out with a load of cans which were out of date and gave me them for free.