Biological warfare
See off slugs without having to use pellets
At this time of year, slugs and snails can devour your carefully nurtured seedlings overnight, but what are the organic alternatives to pellets? ● Catch them: The best organic way to deal with slugs is to track them down at night. Arm yourself with a torch and check over plants, pots and the soil surface. Pick off marauders and pop them in a lidded container and drown them in beer or boiling water. The next day put them into a biodegradable bag and place in your food waste bin. ● Trap them: You can lure slugs into traps, which can then be checked and emptied in the morning. At the edge of your beds, bury a yoghurt pot or tuna tin with the rim at soil level or buy a ready-made beer trap (£5.49 for two Slug Busters from Agriframes, 0117 934 1790; www. agriframes.co.uk). Alternatively, place half an orange, grapefruit or piece of melon skin on the soil surface, then check and empty them in daylight. ● Prevent them: Slugs don’t like crawling over copper or rough surfaces so try placing copper tape around the rims of pots. Fix slug rings (£20.50 for six from Slug Rings, 01225 851524; www.slugrings.co.uk) around prized plants or scatter a thick layer of crushed egg shells or grit around vulnerable seedlings.