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Originally Posted by Bear Drummer
My six year old daughter has a garden box all her own. It is a brick box along one side of our porch, up above the ground by about 2.5 feet,
with strands of twine reaching up to the roof... she has morning glories, moon flowers, and oriental sugar peas (with a few marigolds thrown in). The leaves, espicially the sugar peas, are being eaten by something I can't find.
I need a way to treat this problem that is kid friendly, since it is cared for by a 6 year old (and my 1 year old son "helps"). Since they are in daily contact with the plants, etc... I am worried about using a poison powder....
Anyone have any ideas to try?
BearDrummer
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Hi Bear Drummer,
I suspect since there are holes in the leaves and you don't see the culprit that it's slugs.
http://www.lathyrus.com/pests.htm
Lots of folks like diatomaceous earth, the edible type, but be sure you or the kids don't breathe it in if you use it as the dust can harm the lungs. I like beer, any type will do including what's left in a glass. Stale beer is fine. Put about an inch or two in a shallow container and they crawl in and die over night. Empty before the little one thinks it's something to drink. Grapefruit or orange rinds placed upside down will collect them overnight and throw in the trash. Crushed eggshells on top of the soil also are helpful to kill them. Here's some other non toxic ideas.
http://www.ghorganics.com/page13.html
Newt