Re: poss. stem borers and slugs was: Losing Salvia officinalis

Well, Holly, that sounds like the frass deposited by stem boring type
insects...sounds exactly like what is found around squash plants infested
by squash borers.  Did you see any sign of a hole in the stem...it could be
pretty small and/or at about soil line and/or concealed by the frass?

I have not had stem boring problems with perennials, but used to lose
zucchini to them on a regular basis.  I can't think of any plant disease
that creates that kind of deposit.  Maybe others who have faced stem borers
on ornamentals can offer some input here about just what might be doing
this.  If it is borers munching the innards out of your Anemone and
Lobelia, I doubt the same holds true for the Salvia as their stems are
quite woody at the base....could, of course, be dead wrong but have no
practical experience here.

As for slugs...I cut the little blighters in half with my secateurs when I
see them, but otherwise do nothing.  During really rainy periods, when they
are active around here, I do go on slug killing forays, but have not had
much slug damage during the past few years because it's been so dry.  I've
tried beer in the past, but the amount I'd have to distribute would be
pretty costly if I were to try to trap them all through the garden, so
basically leave them to the wildlife and my temper tantrum rampages.

I believe diatomaceous earth is effective, but needs to be reapplied after
rains.  I've read many posts about slug deterrence with people using salt,
ammonia, vinegar, pure Castile soap, plastic soda bottle traps with
metaldehyde or beer or yeast bait, iron pyrophosphate bait, beneficial
nematodes and copper strips among other things.  I've also been known to
throw them against flagstone and stomp on them when I'm particularly
annoyed with them and don't have any sharp implements to hand.  

The key is that whatever is spread around plants to deter them has to be
sharp enough to make it dangerously uncomfortable for them, despite their
cushioning slime trails.  I've read that eggshells or crushed oystershells
work...even crushed glass, but that's not something I'd want to spread
around as I'm undoubtedly the one who'd get cut on it.    Although they
don't favor sharp sand areas, I've seen them on sharp sand - builder's
type, dunno if silica sand is any different.  If they are hungry, they will
try crossing about any barrier to get to greenery - sort of like deer, only
with slime.

Some have suggested sharp evergreen needles, like spruce, but I have my
doubts there.  Appears from a review of saved posts on this subject that
traps, handpicking and/or spraying are the most effective ways to get the
slug population down quickly.  

Encouraging toads and box turtles helps, but if you have a lot of slugs,
you need a lot of slug munchers...

Marge Talt, zone 7 Maryland
mtalt@clark.net
Editor:  Gardening in Shade
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----------
> From: PolarisOn@aol.com
> Date: Thursday, August 26, 1999 2:56 PM
> 
> Hi Marge,                                                                
      
>     When you mentioned the large Anemone I examined the soil more
carefully 
> around where it had been, sigh, and there was a beady, pale yellow/beige 
> substance concentrated where the stalks emerged. It was a mealy, crumbly 
> consistency but I could find nothing else. Ditto for the Lobelias (some
of 
> which are trying to survive, but are losing great stalks of blooms in the

> identical stuff. These plants are nowhere near one another. Do you have
any 
> idea as to what enemy is out there? What's your opinion of Diatomaceous
earth 
> as a treatment for slugs? I've been using silica sand with some success, 
> especially with Companulas, but it isn't the answer either, I'm afraid.  
      
>                                                                 Holly
Zone 8

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