Thanks markg for the wallpaper paste and salt idea. Definately going to put that to the test.
Hi Eddie, how your doing, tench time coming up.
Yes, give it a go, I fill half the bucket with water, add the paste till its just thickening up and then keep adding the salt till its thick, a half to the whole packet if need be; as much salt as you can put in really..
With the boards which I purloined of a skip, I coat them all over first and then leave them to dry in the sun. Then I push them in the soil and peg them to hold them up.
The slugs/snail slime moistens it if they try and crawl over it and gives them a salt sting or when it rains which is when they come out , it softens it, so its even more effective. On pots, I brush it all round but a 2 or 3 inch band should be enough. Stops them crawling up the pot.
When , I first put some runner beans in, they all disappeared overnight once and I came up with this and not had a problem much ever since. The occasional beast gets through, specially latter on but by then the plants are big and healthy.
I also coat the legs of some little greenhouses I use for young tender plants, stops them crawling up although it does tend to rust the metal legs after a few years of use and also some wall containers, I brush this round them on the wall and the slugs keep off . Oh, and a grape vine trellis, brushed round the bottom of it keeps them off.
I did think the salt might wash off into the soil and could harm the plants, not a problem on pots as they are on a concrete yard but, the veg plot. However, I don't seem to have encountered a problem, the plants are planted at least 6 inches away and I don't think it washes off anyway, the paste makes it stay stick which was the idea..
If you dont use all the concoction, save it by covering the bucket with a plastic bag or lid to stop it drying out and then you can use it again later on if need be.
There were some likes, so I thought a bit more explanation in order and if anyone trys it, let us know how it goes later on.