Help! Slugs eat my strawberries!
natalija_gardener
14 years ago
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scarleta
14 years agoRelated Discussions
Something is eating my strawberries.
Comments (25)I've read that used coffee grounds act as a deterrent for slugs and snails, even the little bit of caffeine left in them being toxic to them. It's a quick and cheap trick to try, anyway. I've also read that they are a deterrent to most rodents. I'm trying this for the first time this year, and it's early days yet, but so far no problems from either slugs and snails, the tree squirrels I see cavorting about, or the wood rats that stripped my lilies a few years ago. The coffee grounds are good for the plants and safe for kids and pets. I don't think it will help with insects or roaches, but who knows? I did find a round hole like described in the opening post and I have to admit that after watching the video posted of the roach eating the strawberry, that looks like the most likely culprit. The question remains "What is an effective deterrent?" Who thinks of roaches as a garden pest? LOL!...See MoreHow to control Slugs in my Strawberries?
Comments (7)We have lots of slugs here. I buy slug and snail bait. The bag last for a long time. I have to throw small handfuls out every spring before planting my cucumbers or they get eaten by the first leaf sets. I would sprinkle a couple pellets by your plants then more heavily around the area of your plants. Then you should be good for the season. I broadcast it eight to ten foot. They smell it and come out and eat it after the sun goes down. It works well....See MoreSomething is eating my strawberries....
Comments (10)Congratulations on your new garden! Let's see if we can get those buggers. There are a few things that come to mind. The first is that it could be birds, but from what I can tell from the damage in picture it doesnâÂÂt seem likely. The second thing it could be is pill bugs, more commonly known as the roly poly. In small numbers they donâÂÂt do much, but when there are a lot they can do some real damage to your garden. Here is a little bit of information on how you can find and identify them: They need to be in moist, dark environments. They are about 3/8th of an inch long, wingless and have seven pairs of legs. They roll into a ball when threatened or scared, which is where they get their nickname. Pill bugs are usually found in the cracks in the dirt and under plant residue. They are active in the late spring, and usually at night. They are often lumped together with sow bugs or potato bugs, and while they are very similar, they are not exactly the same. They feed on any decaying organic matter, which is why large populations can often be found in compost piles and piles of leaf litter. Since they would rather feed on decaying matter, they will usually ignore healthy plants. However, when populations get high, they will feed on new growth and young plants. Tonight when it gets dark I would recommend going to your garden and trying to find them either to rule them out or move on to the next step of getting rid of them. Let me know how that turns out and I will either tell you how to get rid of them or try and diagnose a new bug. Best of luck!...See MoreSlugs are eating my hostas
Comments (15)I'm not totally new to gardening, but I am always trying new and cheap natural alternatives to well just about anything. I have a huge slug problem at my home, they are always in my basement and sidewalk. I was reluctant to plant hostas since I have a slug problem, but they were on sale and i couldn't resist. I planted my hostas, and had no money for mulch so I used sweet gum balls as much. Yes those pesky sweet gum balls. But much to my surprise its been 3 weeks and not one chewed leaf. The slugs will not go over the sweet gum balls, and i have a free alternative to mulch. And no more pesky sweet gum balls in the yard....See Morehemnancy
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