Snail Trail

Oh Wow, I've hit on a topic that generates serious interest.  Snails and Slugs.  Isn't it always the way of things? The least sexy subject is possibly the most important.

Peter . I use my thumb and pointer after rain with a torch then put them on the ground and use my shoe . It works and no dust to inhale or pellets for the animals  Laurie  

Laurie sums up the general feeling and I've a suspicion that he finds this therapeutic.  John (vegie plot King) had a detailed and valuable contribution as usual.  Snails are like annual weeds, they lay eggs that wait for favourable conditions to hatch.  Favourable?  I don't have detail but I guess Spring rain is pretty good so John's suggestion is to set baits early and catch the babies as they hatch.  John also suggested a salt solution poured over the plants in the afternoon, then washed off next morning.  I have concerns about using salt in the garden, rotten stuff accumulates in the soil.



I did find that Kendon Chemicals produce a spray on snail repellent Escargo (gotta love the name).  Escargo is not listed on their web site, but I'm told it is effective and long lasting so long as the area sprayed doesn't get too wet.  If you followed the link to the non chemical snail controls last week you may have noticed that gastropods don't like copper (pic above).  Copper is the active ingredient of Escargo which is available in 1l spray bottles at quality garden centres (Thanks Rob). Please keep in mind this is a chemical solution and should be treated with care.  A couple of readers pointed out experiences that show Multiguard is not quite as environmentally friendly as promoted.

However, not everyone agrees:

I was at a funeral last week of a lady I have known for some time. During the Eulogy by her daughter her love of snails was mentioned, not that she loved them in her garden, but she didn't like to kill them. So when they gardened she would gather all she could find in a bucket and then take it down to the park at the end of the street and empty them there.
Cheers,
Jenni

Segue. Chooks are a terrific way to control all manner of garden pests as long as you're prepared to put up with their own destruction or manage the process (our chooks have massacred our back yard over winter).  If you would like some chooks, here's your chance.  Visit Gippsland Chook Rescue they are offering as many 'girls' as you like for a flat fee of $10.00.  Offer is open until Tuesday only!

 

What is eating my Bouvardia?

I wonder if you would help me with a problem affecting my bouvardia?
It is planted in a south-facing bed in company with camellias and other plants that are doing well, and benefits from some morning and afternoon sunshine, although not for long periods.  The plant has grown well since I planted it three years ago and has considerable new growth since I trimmed it back mid-year.  There is lots of foliage, but I am concerned that the leaves this season have frilly edges.  There is no sign of flowers yet, but it might be a bit early.  The bed is linked to the grey water system, but also receives tank water and never seems to dry out completely.  The soil is well-composted. As the plant seems firmly embedded in the soil, I don’t think the problem can be root rot.  Do you have any clues please?
I would be most grateful for your advice.
Kind regards,
Elaine

At first I followed Elaine's lead and suggested that south facing is less than ideal, I do actually think they like what I'll call a protected North facing position. We have Gardenia growing by a north facing wall that gets shade from a big Moreton Bay Fig and they love it. Bouvardia is a native of Mexico and our experience at Scotsburn is they appreciate similarly warm but not scorching conditions.  They certainly need the solid cut back over winter.

Just to be sure I asked Elaine for a photo....

Oh dear!  I don't think the position will make any difference, slugs or grubs have moved in. My tip is grubs. Solution: Multiguard pellets for slugs or Dipel for grubs. Both are safe and Dipel is registered for Organic growing.

Elaine filled in the story of her Bouvardia:
Bouvardia was the first plant my parents put in the garden of their newly built home in 1942, in an east-facing bed with full sun until the middle of the day.  Dad maintained it was tough and required no special attention, but he later planted standard roses in the same bed, so the bouvardia would have benefitted from the care he lavished on them.  When the house was sold in 2000, my sister dug out a section of the bush to replant in her garden, where it has flourished ever since. 
Nice.


Just for fun I'm calling this Bouvardia humboldtii Minh's Variegated. Minh is our Bouvardia grower extraordinaire and he selected and multiplied this dusty foliage form.

Of Slugs and Snails

Peter,

This year many of my plant leaves have been eaten by baby snails. These tiny snails live on the plants and so are not eating the snail bate on the ground. They are easy to pick off but they are not noticed until holes start appearing in the leaves etc.

Is there a spray or powder that can be put on the leaves? Year's ago snail killer was available in a powder form, but nowadays only in pellets. I have thought a putting some pellets through an old food processor to grind them up.

Any suggestions?

Jeff 


Ahhh, I don't know.  However, a quick search provided these non-chemical solutions to the snail and slug problem. I did like the site that suggested "You use little tiny hammers, lovingly made by leprechauns, and paid for with dew".

I do have some considerable experience with snails and slugs. My 21st birthday cake had a large, marzipan 'Leopard Slug' on the top.

Oh yes we can produce some beauties at the nursery.

Sadly I have rushed to the vet's on more than one occasion with a dog who has found the Blue pellets left lying around.  Poor old Molly survived on both these occasions but it's an experience I never want to repeat.  And that's actually the first thing that I thought of when I read Jeff's enquiry, this is poison you are planning to grind up in the blender!  Please treat any garden pesticide as dangerous.  The snail bait Mesurol (blue pellets) is available as a powdered form for spraying (commercial only), it is also effective on Fungus Gnats and Thrip.  In fact the only reason we ever used this stuff was to control Western Flower Thrip under instruction from the DPI.  Mesurol was the most toxic chemical we kept at the nursery.

The point I am labouring is that despite this knowledge I am forever catching staff using snail baits without proper protective equipment: it's "just snail bait".  We have changed to using Multiguard pellets which use Iron to kill the snails and slugs so are less harmful to the environment, pets and children, but I'm uncomfortable about grinding pellets to dust.  Interestingly when I Googled Slugs and dust the top 4 items were about the danger of dust from commercially available snail pellets.

Sorry Jeff, not much help but you can probably tell it's a subject that I'm pretty passionate about.