Following postings about slugs and snails and copper wire etc., I am
performing some experiments which gardeners, (that does not include me, I am
a non gardener, 'her outdoors' is the gardener) might like to follow.

Pictures at http://www.myalbum.com/Album-NSVC6IM7

One of the pictures shows a slug which is reluctant in going over the copper
wire.

Other pictures are self explanatory .

The three pots of beans are now under the tender care of 'her outdoors' in
her greenhouse. Once the plants show above the compost, they will be placed
in a 'vulnerable' position outdoors where the slugs and snails seem to
frequent.

Watch this space.

Be delighted to answer any questions.

The Cathodic/Electrolytic Action experiment with two dissimilar metals round
a pot may follow later.

Mike
--

"Geo" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 10 May 2008 13:42:16 +0100, "'Mike'" wrote:


One of the pictures shows a slug which is reluctant in going over the
copper
wire.

Um - yes but - the slugs are supposed to be /outside/ the perimeter
fence...


Geo

Yes. That is one we found inside, so it was lifted up and placed alongside
the copper cable. It wasn't happy ;-(

The cable on that bed only went on a couple of days ago so we can only
assume it was already in the bed.

Follow this thread :-))

Watch this space :-))

Mike

In article ,
"'Mike'" wrote:

Following postings about slugs and snails and copper wire etc., I am
performing some experiments which gardeners, (that does not include me, I am
a non gardener, 'her outdoors' is the gardener) might like to follow.

Pictures at http://www.myalbum.com/Album-NSVC6IM7

One of the pictures shows a slug which is reluctant in going over the copper
wire.

Other pictures are self explanatory .

The three pots of beans are now under the tender care of 'her outdoors' in
her greenhouse. Once the plants show above the compost, they will be placed
in a 'vulnerable' position outdoors where the slugs and snails seem to
frequent.

Watch this space.

Be delighted to answer any questions.

The Cathodic/Electrolytic Action experiment with two dissimilar metals round
a pot may follow later.

Mike

Uh, the slug appears to be "in" the raised garden. Maybe he is reluctant
to leave a free lunch. In the picture with the copper tape, there is no
plant to attract the slugs or did they already eat it?;-)
--

Billy
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9KVTf...ef=patrick.net
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l0aEo...eature=related

"Billy" wrote in message
...


Uh, the slug appears to be "in" the raised garden. Maybe he is reluctant
to leave a free lunch. In the picture with the copper tape, there is no
plant to attract the slugs or did they already eat it?;-)
--

Billy

It is indeed on the inside and we are not sure if it was there when the
copper cable was stapled on only a few days ago.

With regards to the beans in the pots, they were planted today and now in
the loving care of 'her outdoors' in the greenhouse. Once they put their
heads above the compost they will be placed in the most venerable place in
the garden, i.e. where we get most slugs and snails and watch :-))

Watch this place :-))

Mike

"'Mike'" wrote in message
news
Following postings about slugs and snails and copper wire etc., I am
performing some experiments which gardeners, (that does not include me, I
am a non gardener, 'her outdoors' is the gardener) might like to follow.

The Cathodic/Electrolytic Action experiment with two dissimilar metals
round a pot may follow later.

Mike

Many years ago (about 30+) I read about copper deflecting the onslaught of
slugs. It so happened soon after reading this tidbit of information I
spotted a box of copper tape on the counter of my company 'store' while I
was getting spare fuses for my truck. I asked the fellow what it was for. He
had no idea nor who ordered it. We paved roads. He said if I wanted it I
could have it. Whoopie! Two dozen lovely 100ft rolls of 2 inch wide copper
'tape'.

I ran a single strip of tape this all around the outside of my wooden raised
vegetable beds and flower planter boxes. I live in the Pacific NW,
USA.......we have SLUGS! I did this in early spring, just before I planted.
The first few weeks I picked slugs out of the beds and boxes but I assume
these were already there or hatched from existing eggs. I never saw trails
or evidence of slugs crossing the tape. By mid summer my raised beds and
boxes were slug free. THEN......as the corrosion started covering the tape
(heavy green-bluish stuff) the slugs began to creep over the most heavily
corroded areas. Apparently this insulates the electrifying effect. Problem
easily solved organically. I cleaned the copper bottoms of some of my
cooking pans with tomato juice. I poured tomato juice into a small bucket,
rubbed down the tape using a rag dipped in the juice, hosed off the residue
and once again the tape was shiny and repelling slugs. This continued to
work the 15 years I lived there.

One hint about attaching your copper. I used roofing nails and soon saw that
electrolysis occurred from the metals reacting to each other. It wouldn't be
long before it corroded through and the tape would fall off. I pulled the
nails, predrilled holes about every 3-4 feet or so, applied a dab of
silicone caulk and inserted a nylon staple type peg. The 'peg' was from a
piece of crap Buttoneer Tool I was given, never used the useless gadget. My
young son had been using the tool for a "ray gun", had to dig that out of
his toy box. Never throw anything away, never know when you might need it


Val

"Val" wrote in message
...



Val



Sounds good Val

Many thanks

Mike

On Sat, 10 May 2008 13:42:16 +0100, "'Mike'"
wrote:

Following postings about slugs and snails and copper wire etc., I am
performing some experiments which gardeners, (that does not include me, I am
a non gardener, 'her outdoors' is the gardener) might like to follow.

Pictures at http://www.myalbum.com/Album-NSVC6IM7

One of the pictures shows a slug which is reluctant in going over the copper
wire.

Other pictures are self explanatory .

The three pots of beans are now under the tender care of 'her outdoors' in
her greenhouse. Once the plants show above the compost, they will be placed
in a 'vulnerable' position outdoors where the slugs and snails seem to
frequent.

Watch this space.

Be delighted to answer any questions.

The Cathodic/Electrolytic Action experiment with two dissimilar metals round
a pot may follow later.

Mike


I'm going to try copper wire around unglazed pots. We have voracious
slugs, some are over 7" long and hunt a couple hours after dark. Beer
traps didn't work so well, snail/slug bait is much better. Some years
are much worse than others, I think it depends on the past winter
temperatures and duration. I've heard the slugs dislike hair, sharp
sand, gravel or diatomaceous earth. But, I've seen pictures of
slugs/snails crossing a razor or knife without getting cut, I guess
due to slime protection. The west coast has some huge slugs that
invade many gardens. Some pick them off early in the morning.

I'm going to try copper wire around unglazed pots. We have voracious
slugs, some are over 7" long and hunt a couple hours after dark. Beer
traps didn't work so well, snail/slug bait is much better. Some years
are much worse than others, I think it depends on the past winter
temperatures and duration. I've heard the slugs dislike hair, sharp
sand, gravel or diatomaceous earth. But, I've seen pictures of
slugs/snails crossing a razor or knife without getting cut, I guess
due to slime protection. The west coast has some huge slugs that
invade many gardens. Some pick them off early in the morning.

http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2007/...s/DSCF0082.JPG

That is my daughter - she will sit for an hour watching these things crawl
on her hands....

"Zootal" wrote in message
...

I'm going to try copper wire around unglazed pots. We have voracious
slugs, some are over 7" long and hunt a couple hours after dark. Beer
traps didn't work so well, snail/slug bait is much better. Some years
are much worse than others, I think it depends on the past winter
temperatures and duration. I've heard the slugs dislike hair, sharp
sand, gravel or diatomaceous earth. But, I've seen pictures of
slugs/snails crossing a razor or knife without getting cut, I guess
due to slime protection. The west coast has some huge slugs that
invade many gardens. Some pick them off early in the morning.

http://zootal.no-ip.info/stuff/2007/...s/DSCF0082.JPG

That is my daughter - she will sit for an hour watching these things crawl
on her hands....


Would you like me to send our slugs and snails for her to play with? ;-)

Whereabouts are you?

Mike

Has anyone considered buying a roll of copper foil that is used in stained
glass hobby/business? It comes in 108-ft rolls and has a peel-off paper
backing that can be left for added strength (the glued back is so it sticks
to glass). The foil comes in various thicknesses, usually 1 or 1.5 mil, I
believe, and width of 1/4" or more. The price per roll is about is about $6
perhaps. You'd need to check around to see if there are any stained glass
suppliers. It's a bit expensive for keeping slugs away, but should work. For
myself, there's nothing like stripping some 16 or 18 guage copper strand
wire that can be found almost anytime in a scrap pile somewhere.

On 5/17/2008 12:27 PM, wrote:
Has anyone considered buying a roll of copper foil that is used in stained
glass hobby/business? It comes in 108-ft rolls and has a peel-off paper
backing that can be left for added strength (the glued back is so it sticks
to glass). The foil comes in various thicknesses, usually 1 or 1.5 mil, I
believe, and width of 1/4" or more. The price per roll is about is about $6
perhaps. You'd need to check around to see if there are any stained glass
suppliers. It's a bit expensive for keeping slugs away, but should work. For
myself, there's nothing like stripping some 16 or 18 guage copper strand
wire that can be found almost anytime in a scrap pile somewhere.

While I prefer using multiple strands of fine copper wire, I know
someone who has used copper foil quite successfully. She says that,
after one use, the glue is no longer usable. Then she uses a glue stick
or other means to fasten the foil for reuse.

The reason I prefer wire is aesthetic: it is not as noticeable as foil.

--
David E. Ross
Climate: California Mediterranean
Sunset Zone: 21 -- interior Santa Monica Mountains with some ocean
influence (USDA 10a, very close to Sunset Zone 19)
Gardening pages at http://www.rossde.com/garden/

"'Mike'" wrote in message
news
Following postings about slugs and snails and copper wire etc., I am
performing some experiments which gardeners, (that does not include me, I
am a non gardener, 'her outdoors' is the gardener) might like to follow.

Pictures at http://www.myalbum.com/Album-NSVC6IM7

One of the pictures shows a slug which is reluctant in going over the
copper wire.

Other pictures are self explanatory .

The three pots of beans are now under the tender care of 'her outdoors' in
her greenhouse. Once the plants show above the compost, they will be
placed in a 'vulnerable' position outdoors where the slugs and snails seem
to frequent.

Watch this space.

Be delighted to answer any questions.

The Cathodic/Electrolytic Action experiment with two dissimilar metals
round a pot may follow later.

Mike
--

Now been brought out into the open and placed where slugs and snails are
always quite 'busy' :-((

http://www.myalbum.com/Album-HLLCEHR8

Watch this space.

Mike

They sell rolls of copper in the gardening section of most home
improvement stores. It works great.
Copper is getting so expensive though! I'm thinking of finding a way
to use pennies instead.

You can also use some lemon to clean your copper.

"Laura at theGardenPages" wrote in message
...
They sell rolls of copper in the gardening section of most home
improvement stores. It works great.
Copper is getting so expensive though! I'm thinking of finding a way
to use pennies instead.

You can also use some lemon to clean your copper.

and Coca Cola and Daddies Sauce :-)

Just think what they do to your stumick ;-)

Mike

"'Mike'" wrote in message
news
Following postings about slugs and snails and copper wire etc., I am
performing some experiments which gardeners, (that does not include me, I
am a non gardener, 'her outdoors' is the gardener) might like to follow.

Pictures at http://www.myalbum.com/Album-NSVC6IM7

One of the pictures shows a slug which is reluctant in going over the
copper wire.

Other pictures are self explanatory .

The three pots of beans are now under the tender care of 'her outdoors' in
her greenhouse. Once the plants show above the compost, they will be
placed in a 'vulnerable' position outdoors where the slugs and snails seem
to frequent.

Watch this space.

Be delighted to answer any questions.

The Cathodic/Electrolytic Action experiment with two dissimilar metals
round a pot may follow later.

Mike
--



Latest pictures. Complete with slug or snail tracks and a very poorly plant
:-(

http://www.myalbum.com/Album-Y8IACPSG

The two smaller plants are in the pots with salt on the double sided sticky
tape and the copper ring around the stem

Mike