bedding plants ,slugs

I've been told that they dislike marigolds. At my old home, I planted a lot of French marigolds and the slugs did leave them alone but just rampaged past them and ate everything else .

When we moved here, there were a lot of English marigolds randomly scattered throughout the garden. They look lovely and cheerful and I've seen no evidence of slug activity. The marigolds are staying!

All of them! The more succulent and leafy the more they like to guzzle them. However the less disturbance the plant gets, the less attractive to slugs. Slugs go for injured plants.
If you must plant bedding plants put down a beer trap or two or if you can be bothered, go out with a torch now and pick off the slugs with a gloved hand.

They don’t seem to bother with lobelia but always demolish my French marigolds. I keep meaning to try English ones.

Slugs have always eaten any marigolds though I don’t know what nationality they were. (The flowers that is, have the slugs down as native to this isle). I plant lots of begonias as the slugs appear to leave them alone. I do realise that some people regard begonias as common. I love ‘em, bold, brassy and above all uneaten.

Another vote for begonias. Common or not the slugs reallly don’t like them.

They dont seem to like Geraniums either, maybe it is the smell they give off. They do eat my marigolds though so i have to be vigilant and go on slug patrol!!!

Petunias don't seem to suffer too badly from slugs. Sunflowers, on the other hand, are eaten down to the ground!

Slugs around here love petunias! I've stopped buying any - I've had newly planted ones literally stripped to bare stalks overnight. They've also made their way up a tree to a basket fastened several feet up, to devour my verbenas.

They never touch geraniums, lobelia or Busy Lizzies, though. (Small garden, most of my summer colour is in pots.).

I know I bang on about them but if you want to get rid of slugs you have to start in early March by spraying nematodes. Early March is when the baby slugs are starting to grow in the soil. You spay every 6 weeks through the summer.
Last year I only had 5 slugs.
Other than that it's Geraniums

I meant to add: the copper tape around the rim of pots stops snails. I've put my Hostas in pots this year.

I don't know about slugs with flowers (except hebe.)
But I do know that they love young greens/lettuce plants. So maybe try planting some lettuce etc seedlings among you flowers.
I read a gardening forum, and it seems that various garden pests are increasing. Perhaps due to changing climate conditions.
We used slug pellets when we had a veg. garden, out of desperation.

Why don't slugs like weeds?? They only eat bedding plants and vegetables!!?

I usually curse the invasive geraniums that spread themselves around my garden, but if they deter slugs perhaps they can stay.

Copper tape around flower pots really works doesn't it petra.
Slugs never touch parsley, thyme, rhubarb, mint but they love basil .
They wait for the strawberries, courgettes and tomatoes to ripen before going in for the kill.
I never use any poisons so have to steer clear of some things I like.

Copper tape didn’t work for me! It eventually was washed off in bits and blew everywhere.

You can get these-rather expensive- slug fences.
www.slughelp.com/slug-fence/
Has anyone tried them? I'm tempted.

Did anyone see the Hosta grower on Gardeners World last night? They said that standing the pot in any metal container keeps away the slugs. They showed some standing in old frying pans!

I have a large Hosta growing among other miscellaneous plants and ferns. I have seldom seen any slug damage on it. Maybe they are intimidated by its size.

Annodomini

There is my solution.! What can you do for my Hydrangeas.
Mine have looked like lace for three yrs and I gave
mine away on freecycle.
I am ruthless on plants that don't perform.

Deff Begonias...I usually but the big giant ones (not the small bedding ones) Ive never had trouble with slugs eating them.

But they used to "fine dine" on my marigolds and petunias.

I have just almost finished putting gravel down in my borders. easier to maintain, so will just be doing a couple of big tubs with begonias this year.
'

"buy" not but rolls eyes

I'm afraid I just go for slug pellets. The sort that are supposed to be pet friendly. I've lost too many much wanted plants...

I have just almost finished putting gravel down in my borders. easier to maintain,

Don't you believe it. Gravel is a perfect seed medium. You'll spend ages weeding it... (unless you go for weedkiller, of course)

Ive put heavy duty weed suppressant underneath, did this round rest of my borders last year and must say if a weed does make its way to the surface it is really easy to pull out, I only have small garden so its not too bad.

(saying that I have just spent hours/days putting new fence up/post etc etc that blew down in the gale).