I have to agree with Sue - Sluggo works great at keeping slugs and
snails away. I'm not sure I know what you mean by "pill bug," but if
that's those little bugs that curl themselves into a ball (I've always
called 'em rolly-poleys) - if we're talking about the same thing, I've
had some troubles with them in my strawberry bed this year. At first I
assumed it was slugs, but then I'd pick off the ones with holes in them
and very often find the rolly-poley inside the berry. What I don't know
is whether the slugs are doing the damage and the rolly-poleys are just
canibalizing the damaged fruit, or whether they're causing it in the
first place.

karen
zone 8, northern Calif.

In article ink.net,
"SugarChile" wrote:

The circular holes out of the center of the foliage sounds like slug damage.
You can go out at night with a flashlight to confirm it.

Slugs control is a perennial topic here, and everyone has their favorite
control. I've abandoned all other methods now that I've found Sluggo:
http://www.pestproducts.com/sluggo.htm
No affiliation, etc., just a happy customer. It really works, it's not
toxic to kids and pets, and while it may seem a bit expensive, a little goes
a long way. Garden's Alive sells a similar product called Escargo. I can't
find this product at my local garden centers, but perhaps yours will be more
enlightened.

My next favorite control is to mix 1 part household ammonia with 3 or 4
parts water in a spray bottle (label it). Go out at night and spritz any
slugs you find. The ammonia dissolves their slime coat and does them in.

Dill is beloved by swallowtail caterpillars, but they don't usually eat the
plant down to the ground. That sounds more like rabbits.

Cheers,
Sue

Zone 6, Southcentral PA


"Norma Briggs" wrote in message
That is what I am trying to figure out, my sage and basil have circular
nibbles right out of the middle of the leaves, and something ate my dill
down to the stem...grrr. However, the parsley, cilantro and chives have
not
been touched to date. Its a small memorial garden for my son so they are
all
pretty close together and
there is a good size layer of shredded leaves below the cedar and Cyprus
hard wood mulch on top of it all...so I am sure there is food for all
kinds
for insects. Maybe that is the problem....lol

thanks so much

njb