Copper Tape

[DoraMac]

Has anyone used copper tape to protect pots or greenhouse staging from slug/snail damage?

Having lost so many seedling and young plants last year, I am really keen to get on top of the problem this year. I went round the garden mornings and evenings hand collecting these creatures and they amounted to 100+ every day.

[artdemole]

Pot of Vaseline.That does it for me .Smear in a band three quarters of the way up. Replace when necessary.

[tom00_uk]

the gf uses it around the ferret shed and run as they enjoying eating them but their stomachs dont

in the gh i just use gravel if its dry there seems to be no problems

[Deb London]

If you can afford copper, it works very well indeed. Cut the tape at right angles along one edge to fringe it, orientate this edge nearest the ground and bend the cut pieces randomly - sharp edges and copper combined worked even better I think, and last a long time.

[DoraMac]

Thanks art' and Deb for the comments. I shall try an experiment -effectiveness of vaseline as opposed to copper tape in keeping slugs/snails off my plants. As Deb states copper tape is expensive and the circumference of pots is greater than one would anticipate.

tom00, thanks too, I wish gravel was the answer but my greenhouse is constructed on soil beds.

[nightshade]

I used unvarnished copper wire to bind a pot together the side benefit was the slugs dont like it. top dressing with coffee grounds works a treat.

[King Edward]

Originally Posted by DoraMac

Having lost so many seedling and young plants last year, I am really keen to get on top of the problem this year. I went round the garden mornings and evenings hand collecting these creatures and they amounted to 100+ every day.

Did you kill all these, or just relocate them? Snails and I guess slugs as well will return to their usual homes when moved over short distances, so chucking them into nearby bushes isn't going to be very effective as a control measure.

[faz]

slugs and snails can glide across a razor blade with no damage to them so sharp objects like glass metal shards etc wont deter them

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by DoraMac

Thanks art' and Deb for the comments. I shall try an experiment -effectiveness of vaseline as opposed to copper tape in keeping slugs/snails off my plants. As Deb states copper tape is expensive and the circumference of pots is greater than one would anticipate.

tom00, thanks too, I wish gravel was the answer but my greenhouse is constructed on soil beds.

Your toads will eat a lot of these, make sure the compost you use in the pots is free from slug eggs then you can stop them climbing up the pots.

[Jim Ford]

Use 2 strips of copper tape (or bare wire - cheaper) about 5mm apart. Connect a 1.5V battery to each strip. The slugs won't cross them. I've used this and watched them creep across the first strip, but as soon as they touch the second they complete the circuit, receive a mild shock and turn away. I've never seen one cross the tapes/wires

Jim