Detering Snails from the GH

[Liz M]

From my experience slugs ans snails are great climbers, your walls will be no barrier, I have found them two floors up on guttering. They love flags and are adept at finding gaps underneath them. Tubs and pots, have you ever looked on the shady side? They are masters of finding cool damp spots. The disused land will be paradise to them, they can go where they please and find all the good hiding spots. In other words they take some outwitting, don't underestimate them. The advice here has been good, so follow it as best you can, you have been advised by experts.

[Wilk]

I have oft thought about buying some sheets of fine mesh wire and fixing it in roof light openings to prevent critters from getting in. Another idea was to take a pane of glass out for ventilation and replace with wire mesh. Of course I have never got round to doing either due to lack of time. Louvre vents are more difficult because of the way they open but maybe someone could make some money by designing a wire cage to fit over the louvre so it can be left open permanently without the risk of intruders.

Just going out to shut my vents/louvres before I turn in. I always take a torch and look for snails. I find that throwing them forcefully at hard surfaces deters them from returning.

[Peter]

You don't need pellets. Just brush salt around the floor. Salt=dead slugs and snails.

[Lithos]

I grow a lot of vegetables, and salad crops - purple sprouting broccoli and cavello nero used to get absolutely mullered by slugs and and snails, but recover in time for cabbage white caterpillars to finish them off, that was annoying as the broccoli is a long term grower - ie having started it in the greenhouse, potted up, then planted april/may for sprouts next year around febuary time. I grow organically, I'm eating it after all, so most slug pellets are out of the question, but there are alternatives available that work ok, perhaps a little more easily broken down after rain. The solution for the broccoli's was to build a cage made of charity shop purchased net curtains - to keep the butterflies out, it has also kept out the slugs and snails ( make sure no eggs in soil first).
A bucket of salty water with a lid (they will try to leave), and a regular trawl at night collecting them does help keep the population down. If they find a good feed source the slime trail helps guide them back to it, and yes they are attracted to pellets, so if you over do it you'll attract more than you destroy.
They like to eat my cucumbers but dislike the leaves, same with cucamelons, and tomatoes, I just keep a refreshed pile of discarded leaves around the door, seems to put them off.

[JaneO]

We cut a narrow channel all around greenhouse (about 4inches wide) and filled it will pea shingle. This achieves two things. Means rain doesn't sit on concrete when it pours and slugs/snails won't go across! Magic!
Jane O

[DaveW]

As to slug pellets reducing slugs and snails to mush, I have had the pellets for years so probably not the ones now usually available. I only use them in the greenhouse anyway, therefore the door is never left open when I am not around and also locked if I am away from the greenhouse.

http://www.slugoff.co.uk/killing-slugs/

[habanerocat]

I suppose one of my main tactics is to collect them. After a dry period (I wish) and then it rains, they are particularly active feeding and mating. Just remember to head out at dusk.

I'v tried the beer saucers, but to be honest I find it a waste of good beer.

[Chris L]

I've cleared a bit (not a lot) of clutter from under the staging to try and limit access for the slugs to just the metal legs of the staging.

I have been shutting the door if it is forecast wet and also will use tin lids and pellets in the GH for a while to be sure I've not missed any.

The "trap" in the blue corner has caught a few slugs and one snail, so might investigate a proper set up that looks better than a yellow bucket with a tray on top!

Not sure I want to use salt as I'll end up having to clear a lot of exploded slugs/snails in the GH.

[madpenguin]

I was wondering if you could try using the copper tape that you usually put round pots to stop slugs and snails.Strips along windows edges etc.Maybe put a barrier round the greenhouse bench.Don't know if it would work but could be worth a try?

[Chris L]

I was wondering if you could try using the copper tape that you usually put round pots to stop slugs and snails.Strips along windows edges etc.Maybe put a barrier round the greenhouse bench.Don't know if it would work but could be worth a try?

I did try it and the slugs went right over it. I suspect the tape I bought wasn't very good.

I should think to get the copper to work you'd need a copper pipe right around the greenhouse with nothing at all over hanging it. I could do that with my greeenhouse.