How does your garden grow?

[dragoneggs]

I have not heard of the copper wire torture method for slugs. :laughing: Here in the PNW, slugs are too many. Wife uses salt and slug bait, but maybe it is worth trying to outline the entire garden with bare copper wire. Wondering though even if it does work... for how long? Does oxidation eventually render the wire ineffective?

 

[bunyip]

Mixed results on youtube but here we go
Copper Snail Barrier. Really Easy to Make. - YouTube
Someone tried pennies but I think they are alloy and not pure copper, they didn't work.
I doubt it would last forever and I don't know how you would cover a garden bed but the raised beds are easy, our big box stores sell copper tape but a little resourcefulness will save a few $$$$.
As we have dogs running around I don't want to use pellets.

 

[dragoneggs]

Now that you mentioned pennies... we were recently at a micro brewery and they had indoor and outdoor seating with glass garage doors that could be raised to really open up the patio to the brewery. I noticed hanging under each door frame was a zip loc bag filled with water and shiny pennies. :confused3:

When the owner came over to say hello I asked him what was the deal with the pennies thinking it was some good luck charm. He laughed and said no... it keeps the flies from coming inside when the doors are open. I was ready to call BS when I explained that the flies eyes could not handle (navigate) going past these objects because of their 'faceted' eyes. I laughed... he said he wasn't a believer either until he tried it. Apparently his indoor fly problem was solved.

 

[Jstpssng]

There are several things that you can use as a slug barrier. A course rope like bailing twine works, as it seems to irritate their soft undersides.
I sometimes go around the perimeter with lime or wood ashes, which works great except it needs to be refreshed occasionally, especially after rain.
Also keep the grass down around any barrier, because it acts as bridges for them to cross over.

Cans partially filled with beer also attracts them, they fall in and drown. The last time that I had a serious slug problem though I couldn't replace the cans fast enough after they got filled with dead slugs.
For my flower garden I have a 5 gallon milk jug with 1 side cut off that I can lay on it's side, putting the beer traps inside so that they are out of sight.
The slugs haven't been bad for the last few years here, but it appears that this summer we may be plagued with them.

 

[Sysop]

 

[jaxs]

Cans partially filled with beer also attracts them, they fall in and drown.

Lady I stays with bin predicting for over fifty years that's surly how I will meet my demise.

 

[CADplans]

Raspberries are ready to pick,,,

then first test of the DIY berry picker made from on line plans,,,

when the blackberries come in,, we may have to connect the picker to a 5 gallon bucket, instead of a plastic bag,,,

:laughing:

 

[2LaneCruzer]

Lady I stays with bin predicting for over fifty years that's surly how I will meet my demise.

Have you seen the movie? Guys about drowns in a vat of Brandy, and from then on he can't as much as taste alcohol and he is shat faced. It's called the "Big Hangover".

 

[dragoneggs]

Hey what is with picking green blueberries? Do you fry them like tomatoes? :laughing:

 

[dragoneggs]

then first test of the DIY berry picker made from on line plans,,,

when the blackberries come in,, we may have to connect the picker to a 5 gallon bucket, instead of a plastic bag,,,

:laughing:

Love it! Will have to make a couple. Many we can't reach and I am tired of the wounds. We are a couple months away but we have blackberry bushes that will rival anyone's! Thanks for sharing! :drink: