Bryan -
We have a similar problem here in the Pacific Northwest, where the
climate is similar to that in the U.K. Except that we don't have
quaint expressions such as:
"I want to be shut of them FOREVER!!"
There are myriad solutions to the problem. Luckily you recognize
the problem: it took me two years to realize that the failure of
lettuce to appear in my garden was not due to seed failing to
germinate. Rather, the slugs and snails were eating everything at
night whilst the gardener slept.
Herewith, a compendium of solutions:
Washington State University
"Snakes and snails tell gardening tales" (undated)
http://www.island.wsu.edu/igt8.htm
YOU CAN GET THEM DRUNK
----------------------
Everyone knows that a shallow dish of beer attracts them. Unlike me,
they don't even care if the beer is stale.
HIRE A DUCK (OR A GOOSE)
------------------------
Not only do ducks and geese find them tasty, but so too do snakes.
Garter snakes, available widely (this offer not valid in Ireland):
Garter Snake Home Page
http://www.gartersnake.co.uk/
http://www.gartersnake.co.uk/maintenance.htm
RELOCATION
-----------
The slugs and snails eat 30-40 times their own weight each day. You
may not like it being done to your landscaping or garden vegetables,
but catching them after dark and relocating them to the compost pile
is a productive solution.
MY FRIEND CORY
---------------
Commercial firms sell pellets with metaldehyde, a snail bait and
killer. A popular one here has the attractive name: "Cory's Slug and
Snail Death." It has the drawback of being poisonous to pooches and
other pets, though there are less toxic versions, as noted in
Marianne's newsletter at the top of this answer.
Here's more information on toxicity:
Oregon State University Extension
"Slug bait--What's the scoop on slug bait formulations?" (Sept. 25,
2002)
http://eesc.orst.edu/agcomwebfile/garden/pestsandpesticides/slugbait.html
CHANGE THE PLANTS
------------------
You seem attached to the buddleia but this article from the University
of California at Davis (which produces great oenologists) says, get
stuff that they don't like to eat. It also blames the snail problem
in California on the French.
UC Pest Management Guidelines
"Snail and Slugs" (May, 2003)
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/PESTNOTES/pn7427.html
THE MAGINOT LINE
----------------
Copper. The same UC article above has excellent details on using
copper banding to build a Snail Defense Line.
RELOCATION 2
-------------
Slugs and snails are not present on some islands. The Nature
Conservancy has been able to keep fragile native species in abundance
on Yellow Island (in the San Juan chain in the northwest corner of
Washington State) by keeping them off this island:
The Nature Conservancy
"Yellow Island Preserve" (undated)
http://nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/washington/preserves/art6383.html
This picture is prettier:
http://www.rockisland.com/~taichi/natural/graphics/yellowisland.html
Google search strategy:
"eliminating snails"
"garter snakes" + U.K.
"yellow island"
Vive la question 27492!
Omnivorous-GA |
Clarification of Answer by
omnivorous-ga
on
30 May 2006 20:29 PDT
Bryan --
Damn, that was a good answer! And I'm using the slug bait this spring
to protect lettuce plants, I might note.
I'm doing other things that prohibit my GA activity, as companies can
be sticky about copyrights and such.
If you do decide to visit Seattle, please let me know. You know my
aircraft brand and could find me fairly easily with a search on the
aircraft brand + "events". I would expect a rousing discussion of gin
(my beloved argues for Bombay; her friends for Bombay Sapphire; and my
former boss insists on Tanqueray). Also, we have a little historical
business about the Hess letters that is unsettled. . .
Best regards,
Omnivorous-GA
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