Hostas and slugs

So far as I'm concerned it's open warfare, sorry if that's upsetting to others
rosesarered you can buy wool pellets online or at most garden centres. I just seem to have very devious molluscs!

Beer traps for me, tragic waste of beer though.

Nematodes is just too awful a death, even for slugs!
Ana, what are wool pellets, did you mean wood pellets?If not, where did you buy them?

Mine is planted with nematodes and beer trap, all is well so far.

Slugs are to Hostas as vine weevil grubs are to Heuchera.

The grubs eat the roots, which goes unoticed until the head of lovely coloured leaves drop right off the roots. I have lost so many of them I find it hard to imagine even growing them in pots with nematodes watered in will work.

I used them last year but the ruddy molluscs just crawled up the nearest vertical surface or plant and launched themselves on to my plants.
At the moment there don't appear to be many around - that'll change as soon as it rains!

I've found a slug solution that actually works! Last year the blighters attacked my new, tender delphiniums just as they poked their heads above the ground.

This year I was ready for the b****rs with Wool Pellets.

My delphs are now knee high and slug free, ditto my vegetable patch.

Not A Nibble Has Been Taken I think they would surely work for hostas too.

sadly I have gone along with the small blue pellets , I put them under a bit of slate so the birds don't get them

I love hostas, most of ours are in big pots. I've tried all the remedies above but sadly conclude that brutality is the only way to go. We found small slugs floating in the beer traps, but the big ones seemed to enjoy a few pints and stagger off for some supper, i.e. the plants. Copper around the plant pots keeps the slugs off, until they use their SAS skills to climb up nearby plants from which they launch an assault.
I'm careful about pellets because we do feed the birds but find they do work most effectively

Hosta has arrived!! To go onto the garden table for the time until the daffs have finished - tete a tete so nearly done and then will move them and replace with hosta. Got to order nematodes and sort out a beer trap. Also get a high nitrogen spray to make massive leaves - this thing had better do well or it is compost!!!

As horrible as salt or bucket of salty water is I found emptying beer traps utterly revolting, even worse than picking up dead slugs......even when done daily - and DH objected to my using 'his' beer!

I have tried lobbing them (alive) out into the woods but not convinced the b***rs don't gather reinforcements on their way back into the garden

How deep is the butt of malmsey beer trap supposed to be?

Found a massive slug yesterday under a pot. Just couldn't bring myself to pick it up. I'm going to raid DH's beer stash now while he's at golf.

Arghh no Anno- the salt option is just too horrible. No animal deserves such a fate- it is just unbearable. I can understand wanting to get rid of them- drown them in beer- but NOT the salt...

Thanks for reminding me. I've just ordered my nematodes

I have always watered my garden at night but talking to a gardener in the local nursery he said that watering should always be done early morning, watering at night provides perfect conditions for slugs.

On wet nights, I have been known to go out with a packet of salt...

Whitewave I have sent you a PM

Decision made - nematodes and beer traps the way to go! Now I am wondering whether the hosta I have ordered will be too big -bum!

I used nematodes for the first time last year and saw hardly any slugs at all. They are completely safe for wild life and pets and easy to use, you just water them in about every six weeks. I love hostas and will try and grow them again now I know how to defeat the slugs.

This last year I have grown Lupins from seed. They are now about 6 ins high and under glass. I plan to outwit the slugs by planting them in tubs, surrounded by gravel and the tubs smeared in Vaseline.

Here's hoping! x

ladies bonnet- is that aqualegia? Yes, there are 100s of plants/flowers that are not bothered with slugs and snails- so why bother with hostas if that is the case- unless if surrounded by copper rings or in tall posts with copper tape.

My hostas get a few holes in but are not usually decimated by slugs.
They are planted in a very narrow border on their own between a wall and the patio in the shade.
Slugs don't like walking (creeping?) across gravel, sand, eggshells etc.

Here is a list of flowers and herbs I planted which slugs or snails didn't eat.

Monbretia tall red flower.

Hardy geraniums - pink and blue

Lavender

Lemon and garden mint, blue flowers in the autumn.

Ladies Bonnet - I can't remember their proper name.

Marigolds.

Stitchwort - small white flower that spreads everywhere.

I have completely given up on hostas after trying every recommended slug deterrent.Such a pity as I love the leaves and flowers of all varieties of hostas