On Thu, 7 May 2009 11:19:02 +0100, Sacha wrote:

On 2009-05-07 10:49:38 +0100, bob said:

On Thu, 7 May 2009 10:09:20 +0100, Sacha wrote:

On 2009-05-07 07:52:11 +0100, bob said:

- only planted last autumn so not much growth on them yet, and most
of the new flower buds tips have been munched on.

My Readers digest book says earwigs/slugs, but I picked off a couple
of tiny snails this morning. Can I win this way, or should I use a
chemical?

Mice seem fond of Clematis, too. If you do choose the chemical route,
I'd recommend Sluggit and then pick off the dead snails or slugs next
morning and dispose of them.

thanks Sacha, that's what I need - I'm in France, does anyone know if
it's the same brand name?
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I can't find the name of the manufacturer (Murphy's?) but Mole Valley
Farmers stock something similar called Slug Clear. I don't see why
they couldn't either tell you what to find in France or perhaps send
you some as it's all in the EU. But I believe there's a French
gardening forum and we have a few urg members either living full time
in France or with holiday homes there, who might be able to help. Do
Mamouth have a gardening section - too long since I've been there!
Once you've dealt with your slugs this way, you might like to consider
looking at the use of Nematodes. They're more expensive but they're
environmentally much more friendly. But you can't use them and a
chemical slug poison because that would kill off the Nematodes.

I'd heard of Nematodes some time ago but was not gardening at the
time. It's a wonderful idea. I wonder if they always work, and
without untoward side-effects.

I'll look into it.

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