When I want to trap slugs I set jamjar traps baited with water, jam, maybe vinegar. They craw l in and drown, the numbers have to be seen to be believed. Obviously it's safe and organic, the dead slugs and snails can be left out as food.
Gardening
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Mike Reed
pfm Member
Interesting, Steve, and a variation on ancient remedies. I'm happy to try that as I've lots of jars and plenty of (home-made) jam and cheap vinegar of various types. However, at what distance intervals does one place them?. Anyway, worth a try in selected spots around plots and plants outside, but not sure about the greenhouses, where they tend to be on the glass for easy despatch. Seemingly Kamikaze slugs but probably just decoys !
ex brickie
pfm Member
I think I may be paying more visits to this thread in the coming weeks and months. I too have got into gardening for the first time ever (and we are talking several decades)
I have no grass - just decking, concrete paving and a raised (ie up steps on another level) stoned area around 5x4m. This means everything is in pots.
my challenges (apart from my ignorance ) are:
close proximity to the sea and high winds - so leaves and flowers get blown off or burnt easily
The salty air generally
The first of these should be remedied soon as the wind is whistling down the side of the house . I’m getting a solid side gate fitted.
Finding plants resistant to sea air is a challenge. My small rose bush doesn’t even produce leaves now - all stalk! I’ve had some success this year with a dog rose but it doesn’t flower much. Trying clematis and jasmine as climbers (so far so good). I’m really keen to try some veg and salad - my spinach seems dead simple to grow!
I’m finding that troughs and terracotta pots are ridiculously expensive. I need to find a cheap source.
Then work out which type of feed I need for which type of plants (and how often)
Then I need to think about whether to build some sort of plastic cloche
Then follow the tips here for keeping slugs and snails away!
Early days for me but I really can see how gardening supports mental well-being. I agree there is a certain smugness to growing something successfully !
I’ll watch this thread…….
I have no grass - just decking, concrete paving and a raised (ie up steps on another level) stoned area around 5x4m. This means everything is in pots.
my challenges (apart from my ignorance ) are:
close proximity to the sea and high winds - so leaves and flowers get blown off or burnt easily
The salty air generally
The first of these should be remedied soon as the wind is whistling down the side of the house . I’m getting a solid side gate fitted.
Finding plants resistant to sea air is a challenge. My small rose bush doesn’t even produce leaves now - all stalk! I’ve had some success this year with a dog rose but it doesn’t flower much. Trying clematis and jasmine as climbers (so far so good). I’m really keen to try some veg and salad - my spinach seems dead simple to grow!
I’m finding that troughs and terracotta pots are ridiculously expensive. I need to find a cheap source.
Then work out which type of feed I need for which type of plants (and how often)
Then I need to think about whether to build some sort of plastic cloche
Then follow the tips here for keeping slugs and snails away!
Early days for me but I really can see how gardening supports mental well-being. I agree there is a certain smugness to growing something successfully !
I’ll watch this thread…….
Any intervals you like. The more the merrier, obviously. Bury them to make it easier. Bait it r with anything sweet, fruity, rotting vegetation, beer, and water so they drown. You'll be tipping them out every day.
In such xerophytic, halophytic conditions you are going to struggle to grow anything in pots. The first step in a windy coastal garden must always be to create a barrier of shrubs to slow down the wind and reduce the salt content of the air. Typically, Tamarisk and Sea Buckthorn grow in such conditions, but there are other plants that will tolerate it. Have a look at this from the RHS: https://www.rhs.org.uk/plants/for-places/coastal-areas
You will achieve the best results by working with nature rather than trying to battle against it. So have a look at what is growing in the wild locally or in other peoples gardens.
Solid structures tend to increase the windspeed as the air accelerates over the top. You want some of it to be able to pass through and you will get a much better reduction in windspeed.
For planting troughs etc you could have a look at Haxnicks planters https://www.haxnicks.co.uk/ They are not expensive and come in a wide range of sizes and styles.
Good luck with the project. It will become addictive! That's why I now design sustainable, rewilded, wildlife gardens for a living and have just returned from Chelsea working on the Rewilding Britain garden which won gold and best show garden.
You will achieve the best results by working with nature rather than trying to battle against it. So have a look at what is growing in the wild locally or in other peoples gardens.
Solid structures tend to increase the windspeed as the air accelerates over the top. You want some of it to be able to pass through and you will get a much better reduction in windspeed.
For planting troughs etc you could have a look at Haxnicks planters https://www.haxnicks.co.uk/ They are not expensive and come in a wide range of sizes and styles.
Good luck with the project. It will become addictive! That's why I now design sustainable, rewilded, wildlife gardens for a living and have just returned from Chelsea working on the Rewilding Britain garden which won gold and best show garden.
mandryka
pfm Member
Dwarf conifers, sedum, sempervivum, osmanthus, pines, ceratostigma, rosemary, Trachelospermum, Muehlenbeckia, magnolia grandiflora, grasses, ferns, bamboos, palms, ivy . . . You can always make it more floral by just adding a bit of bedding -- pansies etc -- twice a year. I had a very successful garden like this on a balcony on the 7th floor of a block of flats -- it can be done.
In my opinion you will do much better with large containers, I wouldn't use any container less than 35L. In terracotta they can be expensive, and of course they can crack. One tip is to look on ebay in January -- that's when the demand is lowest so you may get a bargain. You may also find some B stock. But does it have to be terracotta? Why not use half whisky barrels -- they are cheap and they are big?
Oak Whisky Barrel Tub/Planter – Half Barrel : Amazon.co.uk: Handmade Products
As far as troughs are concerned, if you're handy you can make your own with hypertufa
Make a Hypertufa Trough - FineGardening
By the way, you can always make an ugly container look better by planting something which trails. Muehlenbeckia complexa can look really good in a container, for example -- fabulous when planted with buxus.
Once a year with a continuous feed product like this
Miracle-Gro 17684 All Purpose Continuous Release Plant Food 1 kg, Green, Brown : Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors
It's more important to get the watering right (consider an irrigation system), and to get the soil right. Some John Innes in the mix retains moisture better, I use this
Westland 10100012 Multipurpose Compost with Added John Innes, 10 L : Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors
and I add this sort of thing too
Miracle Gro 119923 Moisture Control Pots & Baskets (225g Pouch) - Storing Gel Crystals that Release Water When Plants Need it Most! : Amazon.co.uk: Garden & Outdoors
Cover the surface with gravel and pebbles to reduce evaporation.
(Don't buy from amazon, you can get these things much more cheaply from Wickes for example)
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Weekender
pfm Member
If you are using terracotta pots put them on feet as this reduces the instances of cracking.
https://www.gardenista.com/posts/ga...ters-from-cracking-freezing-cracks-in-winter/
https://www.gardenista.com/posts/ga...ters-from-cracking-freezing-cracks-in-winter/
ex brickie
pfm Member
Great tips folks - thank you! I'll be out this weekend ............
gavreid
Pretty Words...
terracotta pots always break - sooner or later. I've given up and use these now, they'll last many years. The downside is they do heat up in the sun requiring more water and an automatic system is very handy.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R3YLZWJ/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08R3YLZWJ/?tag=pinkfishmedia-21
This site contains affiliate links for which pink fish media may be compensated.
Mike Reed
pfm Member
Cauli's or slugs, Joe? After all, the French eat snails. Racing snails are not unknown and an acquaintance into that sport once tried to cheat by removing their shells in order to make them faster. Unfortunately for him, they simply became more sluggish. (Boom! Boom!)
Weekender
pfm Member
We use something very similar for our Acers and Twisted Hazel. V. good.
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Darth Vader
From the Dark Side
Maybe this depends on where you live and how rough you are with them. I have pots of several sizes (some are very heavy) that have been used 30 years and even moved house still in one piece and in use.
I have learned a lesson after removing plants established in large ornamental pots (I had to cut the wooden roots out with a saw and it took ages and a lot of graft!) and now plant large specimens in plastic pots and put these into the attractive clay pots. This also keeps the roots cool and requires less water during the Summer. They are also easier to move in two pieces and re-pot with replenished compost when necessary.
I also live by the sea on the SE coast with almost constant breezes/wind and lots of salt that attacks metal and soft wood. I have no problem growing S France/Med type plants although I don't get any olives as I don't protect them over the Winter. Grape, fig, lemon, orange, plum tomatoes etc and and loads of herbs without issues plus the British fruits.
All in flower/fruit ready for August onwards eating. Yum!
DV
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ks.234
Half way to Infinity
Ah, but it isn’t a ‘luxury’ chimnea, (notice the upside down plate with a door knob glued to the top in place of the one that was broken), so I should be ok for a bit.
gintonic
50 shades of grey pussy cats
champagne socialist at the very least
ks.234
Half way to Infinity
No, no. He's paid the egalitarian offset fee at the local Labour Party offices so he's in the clear. The levy goes towards a fund to make chimineas accessible to all social classes, including those without gardens.
