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Slugs

A few thoughts about slugs... 

I avoid using anything to attract slugs, eg beer traps, since this surely
attracts them from far and wide INTO the garden, passing tasty plants on the
way to the traps? We find instead that a night-time trip with a torch to
catch them lowers the numbers dramatically after a couple of weeks, each
growing season.

I used to snip them with hand shears (maybe their slimy contents feeds the
plants?) but noticed that nothing attracts slugs and snails like severed
slugs, so now I throw them vigorously into the adjoining field. Possibly
some have ended up in geostationary orbit -- I can't tell in the dark.

Often plants will remain perfect, not attcked by any slugs, even though I
find them nearby. Once one starts getting attacked, it will often suffer
from several more slugs. Again, I think it's the smell from the damaged
plant attracting the slugs. Maybe we can put this to use, eg by removing
damaged parts altogether or putting crushed foliage of plants slugs don't
like near plants we wish to protect, to repel them. Maybe feverfew, which
has a strong smell, and does not seem to be attacked by slugs? I feel a
field test coming on....

Anyone any opinions or ideas?

Nick
Keystone Copse
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