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Re: [SG] Diatomaceous Earth / Slugs & Balance

Hi Margaret,
        Thanks for the suggestion on using ammonia to kill slugs in the garden. I
was aware of it from others mentioning the procedure. I do not use it as
yet. I like to leave a few of the critters in the garden. There must be
some of the population left to keep the birds  and toads coming back. If I
eliminated them all everything would go out of balance.
        One of the points I make in my slide presentations and lectures is this
balance. For example, in one lecture I end with a slide of  a turtle in the
garden. Also have one of a baby bunny. This week I was fortunate enough to
see and photograph a slug on a weed at the edge of the garden, a daddy
longlegs under the bloom of the Wormroot and a moth on the thyme in bloom
near the house.
        I am as careful as possible in the nursery since I do not want to
distribute and pest or disease to others. However there has not been any
poison around here in almost 20 years. Now that I am getting a bit older I
do use Roundup to help with the weeding.
        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
          around the woods - around the world
genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com

----------
> From: Margaret Lauterbach <mlaute@MICRON.NET>

> Subject: Re: [SG] Diatomaceous Earth
> Date: Wednesday, June 10, 1998 10:19 AM
>
> <snip>
>  I do know the beer traps work. If I use slug bait I
> >place it on a small plastic saucer and place it under a clay flower pot
so
> >nothing else can get to it by accident. Just take a pair of pliers and
nip
> >an opening in the rim of the pot for them to crawl through. Placed
properly
> >it can be a part of the garden ornaments.
> >        I do have a large bird population here so think things are in
> balance. Yes
> >I do have slugs, but they have not destroyed anything or completely
marred
> >any foliage to keep me from taking photos every morning of the plants
and
> >bloom.
> >        Gene Bush     Southern Indiana    Zone 6a     Munchkin Nursery
> >          around the woods - around the world
> >genebush@otherside.com     http://www.munchkinnursery.com
>
> Gene, have you tried using 50% ammonia and 50% water in a spray bottle?
> Sounds as if your slug problem isn't too bad, but marred foliage may
> destroy sales for you.  Seeing black vine weevil damage on a potted plant
> for sale in a nursery made me wary of all of their plants for some time.
> Margaret
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