I Prefer My Raised Flower Bed To Have A Wild Look..
By Janey1966
@Janey1966 (24170)
Carlisle, England
August 23, 2012 7:33am CST
..and that means NOT killing slugs!
Slugs have a tough time of it. No-one I know likes them and pulls their face whenever a conversation is struck up about them (which usually involves talking about the latest methods of extermination) lol.
My Dad's favourite method of killing slugs is using salt. Mum uses the more traditional method of using Slug Pellets. She has been known to find "about a hundred dead slugs" the following day - then she feels guilty that she's killed them all!
As for hubby, if he sees a slug he will "chuck it into the alleyway" but my guess is, the slug will find its way back. After all, snails have been proven to behave like "Homing Pigeons" so I should imagine slugs are the same.
Another reason for letting my little garden look after itself is that I know it will get on my FIL's nerves. He has a perfect garden you see, nothing out of place. If a plant becomes overgrown he kills it off or moves it (which will probably kill it anyway eventually) and there is nothing in his garden that has a wild look about it. This is why I found it hilarious (well, not for the fish) when he found Carp from his pond dead with their heads ripped off. An otter in the area had killed them all. He's now got it in for the otter by placing a strange, metal grill across the pond but - my way of looking at it..why have huge Carp in a pond? They don't belong there. Not enough room. Oh, I know why he has them, THEY'RE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY! Right, I get it now, Mr Money-Bags loves his Carp for financial reasons. Idiot!
This ace shrub I've got that flowers in the spring - well, he'd dig that up for a start. But, my friends, it is staying put, even if it does get out of hand at times. I do trim it back a bit but only so it does not interfere with my washing-line.
As for my geraniums..oh dear, holes galore but I'm not bothered. They have an artistic look about them.
Well, that's my excuse anyway!
My Dad's favourite method of killing slugs is using salt. Mum uses the more traditional method of using Slug Pellets. She has been known to find "about a hundred dead slugs" the following day - then she feels guilty that she's killed them all!
As for hubby, if he sees a slug he will "chuck it into the alleyway" but my guess is, the slug will find its way back. After all, snails have been proven to behave like "Homing Pigeons" so I should imagine slugs are the same.
Another reason for letting my little garden look after itself is that I know it will get on my FIL's nerves. He has a perfect garden you see, nothing out of place. If a plant becomes overgrown he kills it off or moves it (which will probably kill it anyway eventually) and there is nothing in his garden that has a wild look about it. This is why I found it hilarious (well, not for the fish) when he found Carp from his pond dead with their heads ripped off. An otter in the area had killed them all. He's now got it in for the otter by placing a strange, metal grill across the pond but - my way of looking at it..why have huge Carp in a pond? They don't belong there. Not enough room. Oh, I know why he has them, THEY'RE WORTH A LOT OF MONEY! Right, I get it now, Mr Money-Bags loves his Carp for financial reasons. Idiot!
This ace shrub I've got that flowers in the spring - well, he'd dig that up for a start. But, my friends, it is staying put, even if it does get out of hand at times. I do trim it back a bit but only so it does not interfere with my washing-line.
As for my geraniums..oh dear, holes galore but I'm not bothered. They have an artistic look about them.
Well, that's my excuse anyway!3 people like this
7 responses
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
23 Aug 12
Janey, you would feel right at home with me. I am a wild gardener. I plant or allow to grow lots of things that the birds love. Wild sunflower forest from volunteers from last year. Pokeweed with beautiful drooping clusters of purple berries. People cannot eat them but they are great for birds. I have pyracantha with gorgeous orange berries. I have honey bees liking the water containers as well. I have heard they have had a rough time the last few years, so I am glad to offer them a quick drink.
2 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Aug 12
I WOULD feel at home with you, you're right! Wow, how I'd love to see your garden.
Next year I'm considering planting a miniature meadow to attract butterflies, bees and the like. I toyed with the idea of buying the seeds this year but the weather was so bad at the time, it put me off. In fact, the summer in general hasn't been good at all.
Here's to next year being better.
Next year I'm considering planting a miniature meadow to attract butterflies, bees and the like. I toyed with the idea of buying the seeds this year but the weather was so bad at the time, it put me off. In fact, the summer in general hasn't been good at all.
Here's to next year being better.2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169585)
• United States
23 Aug 12
That is it, I live in a meadow, or a junk yard. . . depends on what hubby has lying around. I have some herbs planted for fragrance. I am wanting to attract hummingbirds. This year was huge for butterflies in the spring. Red Admirals were everywhere, by the hundreds. Summer went downhill from there though.
1 person likes this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Aug 12
Bees in particular are declining in numbers in the UK (various reasons for this) so if I can help in some way I shall. Same goes for butterflies. Even in Mum's garden it's rare we see butterflies, when I was younger there were loads. I think they may have migrated to the US (your garden) and I'm so pleased hundreds have visited you. You're very lucky.
1 person likes this
@riyauro (6421)
• India
23 Aug 12
I love to do my garden as well and I can't stop making my garden look better and better. I like how you prefer your raised rose bed. Nice one.
oh man! i remember my mother, she used to put salt on the slugs. I hate slugs and I don't like them in my garden. In Fiji there are lot od slugs in my garden but here in Goa I hardly see slugs.
thanks for sharing and have a wonderful day ahead.
2 people like this
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
23 Aug 12
My flower bed doesn't have roses in it. The shrub has green leaves that die off in winter but in the spring back come new leaves and a load of little yellow flowers that look like miniature carnations. I always look forward to them budding.
I also have three evergreen plants (one of which is a Winter Jasmine) and some Hot Lips. Yes, that's its name and it comes from the red and white flowers on it.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
9 Sep 12
i've seen slugs in my yard as long as a hand..but they keep to themselves under rocks or bricks,so i leave them be.
my dad did the same thing.i saw one on the porch one day,went to do something,came back,and he had poured a mountain of salt on the poor thing.i chewed him out for that.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
9 Sep 12
I wonder what the salt does to them? By the look of how curled up they are they must die in agony. Not the most beautiful of creatures but they can't being slugs, which is the way I see it. My Dad only has to see one (nowhere near any plants) and goes berserk.
@shaggin (74987)
• United States
23 Aug 12
Oh boy lol. We gave so many slugs here it is so disgusting trying to go outside after a rain or in the early morning. They get on everything. I hate it because they eat all the wild strawberries in my garden. I cant step on them and kill them I just would feel bad. I dont kill them at all but I sure wish they would just go away on their own. I told my daughter we will have to go out in the morning with a container and collect them and go a mile away and dump them in the woods somewhere. They breed a lot so Im sure it wouldnt really help though lol.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
24 Aug 12
Awww, at least you're thinking of alternatives to killing them, I'm impressed! Let me know how you get on and make sure they're far away because I reckon they will find their way back. Well, snails can but I'm unsure about slugs.
Good luck anyway!
@webearn99 (1742)
• India
24 Aug 12
Dear, Dear Jane, I think that you are losing out on a great business opportunity. Please find a culture where slugs are eaten and export your collection there! Loads of money be made to be made there. Almost all rich people are innovators. Do this and I will have the pride in boasting to every one that I have a billionaire friend. That is all I ask for, basking in your glory. As for your garden,I suggest you let it over grow till it resembles a jungle, and make money conducting tours for the city bred who wish to visit wilderness.
Once your FIL sees the money you are making he will fall in line with you and maybe you can take him on as an apprentice.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
24 Aug 12
What an absolutely brilliant response. You made me laugh my friend and thanks for that. I could just imagine my FIL coming round to be my "apprentice." Mind you, the area isn't massive but the idea of ordering him about cheers me up no end!
@changjiangzhibin89 (17244)
• China
24 Aug 12
I haven't heard of slug pellets, but have snail pellets here which is used by vegetable grower to kill the snail.Maybe it is because I live on first floor,I have never seen the slugs in my flowerpots.Over here some people also use salt to kill them.I wonder what type of plant your ace shrub is.I remember you have mentioned the daffodil in a discussion.Plant is my interesting topic of conversation.
@Janey1966 (24170)
• Carlisle, England
25 Aug 12
We didn't get many daffodils this year because the weather was so poor during the spring. I can't remember what the name of my ace shrub is, to be honest.
@changjiangzhibin89 (17244)
• China
28 Aug 12
I like to raise the narcissuses which is also a sort of bulb plant and has heavily scented white flowers that bloom during the Spring Festival.
@BarBaraPrz (51838)
• St. Catharines, Ontario
23 Aug 12
I don't mind slugs... as long as they stay under their rock and not eat my garden! (I have enough damage from the squirrels.) When I'm tending to my front garden and find snails, I'll toss them into the road. If they make their way back without being run over, fine.
(I have enough damage from the squirrels.) When I'm tending to my front garden and find snails, I'll toss them into the road. If they make their way back without being run over, fine.
