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Gardening

Slugs and more.......

(29 Posts)
Luckygirl Sun 22-Aug-21 11:39:32

More advice please for this novice gardener.

I have potted up some winter pansy seedlings and they are raised from the ground on a bench. Will they be at risk from slugs there, and if so what could I best use to deter slugs? I would like it to be organic, but wonder if these seedlings might be at risk from damage as they are so tiny.

Also I know have a very large and wonderful raised bed, which means I can do my own gardening - hooray! I have put in all the plants that I love, but will have control their size a bit as they re in a raised bed. How do I know whether I will be preventing next year's flowering if I cut them back to keep them a reasonable size? I am thinking of things like Guelder rose, lilac bush, fuscia, cistus, Japanese anemones etc. Are there different rule for each one?

Lots of thanks to the collective Gransnet gardening brain! smile

threexnanny Sun 22-Aug-21 22:00:19

I agree with HAZEL93's advice. Japanese Anemones die right back so cut at the base when they become unsightly. Hardy fuscia's we normally prune in the spring just before they start shooting again. The lilac I just cut bits off that have grown where I don't want them as and when.

MaizieD Sun 22-Aug-21 22:17:54

Sorry, slug pellets every time. The sort that are non harmful to pets. Apparently the small grey slugs are much more destructive than the big black ones...

Japanese anemones can be very invasive, I have some pink ones bent on world domination, they spread by underground roots and pop up everywhere. White ones are not so bad. So be careful about which variety you go for.

Shrubs get big, too, so I hope you have lots of space. Although they probably won't hurt being cut back sometimes when you feel like it, it's worth finding out which flower on new wood, and which on old wood, and prune accordingly if you can.

Esspee Sun 22-Aug-21 22:51:17

MerylStreep

Has anyone got anything against nematodes. They really do work.

Simply cost. Do you have a supplier who charges a reasonable amount?