5 September 2019

Metaldehyde slug pellets banned

Last year the government announced that slug pellets containing metaldehyde are to be banned, so from June this year they will no longer be on sale. DEFRA said that “metaldehyde poses an unacceptable risk to birds and mammals” and it is believed to be one of the reasons for a decline in hedgehog, amphibian and bird numbers. Being water soluble, metaldehyde was also finding its way into rivers and waterways. The good news is there are plenty of NATURAL ways to keep slugs at bay including our best-selling Nemaslug Slug Killer.

Nemaslug® is the No.1 bird/wildlife friendly solution for slugs. Nemaslug® will not harm children, pets, birds and wildlife. Song birds i.e. thrushes, hedgehogs, frogs, toads and some insects i.e. ground beetles love to feed on slugs and their eggs. These predators have a significant impact on the slug population, but many of the chemicals used in slug pellets can be toxic to these predators, so if you use them, you run the risk of harming them. There are also increasing concerns about the effects of these chemicals on pets. Unlike Nemaslug®, many slug pellets do NOT work well during wet weather – exactly when you need protection against slugs. Nemaslug® also kills slugs BOTH above and below ground.Nemaslug® contains millions of microscopic beneficial nematodes (Phasmarhabditis Hermaphrodita) that occur naturally in your soil. They are invisible to the naked eye and come as a powder, which is mixed with water and applied to the soil where they search out and invade the slugs. As the nematodes invade the slug, it will stop feeding and will burrow underground to die. As it decomposes in the soil, the nematodes are released back into the soil to search out more slugs and the whole process starts again. Nemaslug® works at temperatures above 5c/40f, so apply UNDERGLASS all year round or apply OUTDOORS during the growing season i.e. between March and October. Each application of Nemaslug® will control slugs for six weeks, so for a slug free garden, apply Nemaslug® every 6 weeks. CLICK HERE to find out more about Nemaslug Slug Killer.

Copper Tapes, Rings, Bands and Mats – Slugs hate copper because of a reaction between their mucus and the copper. Use self-adhesive copper tapes on your pots / containers to form a barrier that slugs will not cross.  Copper |rings and Bands can be used to protect plants in borders from slugs and snails, while matting impregnated with copper will repel slugs and snails plus suppress weeds – this matting is ideal for protecting fruit and veg crops i.e. plant strawberries through the matting.
CLICK HERE to find out more about Copper Tapes, Rings, Bands and Mats.

Wool Pellets and Matting – Sheep’s wool is 100% natural and very effective at repelling slugs and snails as well as being a very effective mulch. Available as pellets or as matting, simply cover the surface to form a barrier that plants can grow through but that slugs and snails will not croos PLUS it acts as mulch to reduce water loss and stop weeds. The Wool Pellets are spread over the surface and watered, they expand and form a mat, which will not blow or wash away. The fibres in the woollen pellets stop the slugs and snails by making it uncomfortable for the slug or snail to crawl across.  Wool matting is also available. CLICK HERE to find out more about Wool Pellets and Matting .

Barriers and Traps – We have a range of traps and barriers that can be used to create physical barriers to stop slugs and snails getting to the plants. Once of best-sellers is the Slug Collar – Slug Collars  are designed to slip over the tender shoots of hostas, delphiniums and other herbaceous plants in borders to protect them from BOTH slug and snails. They are also great in the vegetable garden to protect lettuce, rocket, runner beans etc. Simply push the ring a few cms into the soil and the angled lip effectively keeps slugs and snails away from your plants. During trials in my garden I also found they protected plants from over enthusiastic hoeing and mulching as well!

Fit a Hothouse Cover to your Slug Collar to turn it into a mini hothouse. These covers allow sunlight in and then holds back the warmth, making it ideal for protecting and encouraging growth in spring and autumn. Once the plants are established simply remove the lid during the hot summer months, leave the halo in place to protect from slugs and snails. Ventilation holes prevent overheating and allow water in, so you do not have to remove the lid to water. The cover also provides protection from pests, heavy rain and hail. The Hothouse Covers are available separately for customers who already have halos or buy packs of Slug Collars and Lids together and SAVE MONEY! CLICK HERE to find out more about Slug Collars, Hothouse Covers and all our other barriers and traps .