On 17/04/2014 09:02, Charlie Pridham wrote:

Having said that, I do use Slug clear on the clematis crowns in spring,
but by now have switched to Ferramol pellets (Iron based) which are
harmless to birds mammals (and frogs!)

Agree on the iron based pellets - I've used them for around three years
now and had no recourse to poisonous pellets. Its good to know that
there aren't any poisoned corpses lying around for the good guys to eat.

I understand that they cause some sort of swelling in the slug/snail
that ingests them? Otherwise, I'm not sure of the process that makes
them effective.

Favourite theory would be that you could just put a powerful magent at
one end of the garden and wait for them to get stuck there.

I use them sparingly to protect specific areas/plants - I don't have an
issue with a reasonable number of slugs/snails sharing the garden.
Apart from anything else, they do provide a food source (not for me as a
non meat eater).

--
regards andy