Slugs and Snails

Hi

A week ago I planted some bedding plants which had not yet flowered, just green. I have looked today and they have all been eaten by what I assume to be slugs/snails. I assume this because the plants are in an old water feature and when I cleaned the feature I saw some slugs and snails but never thought to get rid of them at the time.

I have looked online at a well known DIY store for a product that I can use to deter the slugs/snails but there are SO many options I have no idea which to buy, or even if they are sucessful or not.

Can you recommend a product to use please? I have a 20 month old daughter so ideally something that is non toxic however we will be able to keep her away from the area if needs be.

Thanks in advance

 

Beer traps are the best option, you only need cheap beer or ask for some from the drip trays in the local pub.

put them in saucers and cover them to keep the rain out, the slugs will drink themselves to death

 

Its the cleaning out after that I don't like or can you empty the saucer onto the grass and let the birds have them?

 

Could do, or put them on the compost. Don't have to worry about it here as my mate Simon usually drinks em.

 

Do they get drawn towards the beer instead of the plant then?

 

They are attracted by the yeast but only from a small area around the trap, most of them take a drink & leave, only a few drown & if you have the rim of the trap too low ground beetles will fall in & drown.(Ground beetles eat more slugs than beer traps kill).

 

I empty mine onto a patch of grass to the side of my property, always plenty of starlings on there, I made a big mistake and emptied them into a soakaway drain on my drive, the stench was appalling.

 

Not to create new topic...
I started thinking on how high on the walls and how deep in the soil do they go. I have my garden surrounded by brick walls. One side wall is above 2.5m high. 2 others are at waist level, and then house and paved patio.
In theory if I constantly pick them, should they mostly be gone? So far with no rain they don't show up much.

 

I think it's the dry weather keeping them out of the way. I find them on my garage wall at the apex of the roof, 10+ feet up an acer and occasionally on the glass of the upstairs bed room window, also inside the roof of the greenhouse.

 

aaah, nasty creatures.

 

It is a nasty shock first thing in the morning.