Slug/snail repellent

Does anyone have any suggestions (Nippy I'm sure you'll know) what I can put around my two large potted Hosters to stop the slugs and snails climbing up the pots and eating them? Obviously it must be safe for dogs as I know those blue pellets are lethal.

Any suggestions would be most welcome

Hi Jenny you can buy a copper strip to put around the pots at the garden center, apparently slimy things don't like crossing copper.

My mum sprinkles coffee around her plants!

Another thing to consider is making a plastic slug collar to put around the top of the tubs in the evening .

You would need to find a wide strip of plastic in a DIY shop then make cuts half way across and bend them over to make a frilly circle. The circle can then be placed in the tub and the slugs won't be able to get over it.

It is the same principle as these which I use for my runner beans....

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...v=uCwLOh4pnec#!

Best of all is the torch and plastic bag method. For the last couple of years I have gone out after dark some nights and collected all the slugs and snails and put them in a plastic bag. To begin with I was getting half a bucket each night, now I hardly find any.

There are something called nematodes that are the natural predator (besides hedgehogs and birds that don't always do it when you want) and you add them to your watering can and then they hatch out.
I used them in my ex-OH's first house because the place was overrun with them and snails and it worked
http://www.amazon.co.uk/s/?ie=UTF8&k...sl_cy3v8sqhh_b

Wow, thanks for all the quick replies I think for tonight I'll try the plastic frilly ring thingy. Thanks again some great ideas.

Oh dear, we had mega slugs last year and they ate everything.

We were given all sorts of suggestions, including the copper and someone suggested broken egg shells but I couldn't bring myself to do it - mind you, I've since read that in response to the sharpness the slugs produce more mucous and are not hurt, although they risk dehydration.

I gave up in the end and just let them eat everything.

Good luck.

Jenny, so sorry it has taken me til now to see this post

I would suggest the copper collars I believe they are very successful.
I'm surprised that no one suggested beer traps! Put a shallow dish of beer out and the slugs crawl in and drown! What a way to go
Good luck!

Its disposing of the bodies afterwards!!! Using the nematodes means they get eaten all up plus there is nothing harmful (except to the slugs and snails that is)

Very true