I was going to be so positive today. A week of rain, thunderstorms and cold weather but the garden is clearly pulling away, spots of colour splashing in amongst the lush growth. But I have to tell you that the number of slugs this year is unbelievable and they are damaging so much. I have dwarf green beans to plant out and yet I fear they will disappear overnight. This morning’s walk around turned into another slug collection and more damage assessment. Here’s what I found.
One
What me, Guv? The first attack on the red onions that were planted out a few weeks ago. I now feel that nothing will be safe from their chopping jaws.
Two
This should be a lovely clump of allium ‘Mount Everest’. The tall stems topped with white flowers mingle with the roses and geraniums to create one of my favourite summer combinations. But this year almost all the stems have been nipped off. A few valiant souls have made it to the top and are beginning to open up but the display will be less dramatic this year.
Three
Elsewhere the purple allium ‘Purple Sensation’ has survived and they are just opening out.
Four
The regular downpours of rain have had me running round the garden with lengths of string tying in the clematis that is romping away. This one grows over an arch and pretty much entwines itself. It is clematis montana Wilsonii and has a wonderful chocolate scent – in the sunshine.
Five
Aquilegia ‘Lime Sorbet’ looking rather pretty, with the newly emerging potatoes in the background. The canes are there to protect them from curious cats and foxes.
Six
A sunny corner and slug resistant plants: osteospermum and iberis sempervirens, something simple but effective to give a cheerful ending.
It’s a long weekend here, with plenty of rain forecast. I shall try to make the most of any sunny spells. One tray of tomato plants were potted on last week. The root growth was not great so I’ve left the second tray for another week. The true leaves have grown on and I think come what may I will be potting them on this week. I may offer up one group of four dwarf French beans, but with some acceptance of their probable fate. There are tulips to deadhead and weeds to pull. I will try to banish the gardening woes by enjoying what does defeat the slimy lurkers! Over to Jim’s place for more gardening stories. I hope you have time to enjoy your garden too.
n20gardener 
Have you tried coffee grounds – apparently it’s toxic to the slimy assassins, and is said to improve soil too. I haven’t tried it myself as we don’t drink a lot of ground coffee.
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I used coffee grounds on a hosta last year but I couldn’t honestly say it worked. I also sprayed with garlic spray. But perhaps not regularly. I’ll try coffee again as we do have grounds to dispose of. Thank you 😊
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Good luck
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Coffee grounds and garlic spray never makes a difference for me. I usually use nematodes, but it’s been too wet and cold so far, but I might buy a pack. Beer traps work well if you don’t mind sacrificing beer!
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I’ve bought the cheapest beer I could find. I was wondering If shandy would work 😂😂
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Ouch, I feel your pain but those slugs are positively brazen! I’m trying Strulch for the first time, I would say it is certainly slowing them down but make sure you’ve removed any slimy residents otherwise you’ve effectively created an island with a buffet (don’t ask how I know this!)
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Yes I used Strulch a couple of years ago. Maybe it did do a good job in retrospect!! I remember once straying up the strawberries and making the perfect hides hole for the slugs!! Never did that again.
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I’m butting in again. Strulch didn’t work either and I noticed that plants didn’t self seed into it.
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I think you’re right about no self seeders and I wasn’t really convinced by the strulch either
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So we have the same conclusion: it’s a miserable year because the slugs are very very hungry… Can’t wait for the sun and the warmth of spring. Nice osteos (I bought 3 this morning at €1.50 each; a bargain)
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What a great price for your osteos. Plants are so expensive here! I’m going to try coffee grounds again and maybe beer traps on the allotment.
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A lovely six – and you are not alone in your slug issues this year, as I’m sure you know. All my daffodils were shredded completely this year. Yes – Eliza Waters, another blogger, suggested spraying with coffee as well as just using the grounds. Have not tried yet, but since it’s still raining … gorgeous clematis! Thanks for sharing.
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My pleasure. I’m sorry we’re all suffering but good to know I’m not alone! What a year.
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Beer traps work but you waste so much beer 😂
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The clematis is lovely, and a chocolatey scent to boot! Ugh on the slugs, yuck! Have you tried Sluggo? I have good luck with it battling the snails. It is spendy tho.
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I’m not familiar with Sluggo! Great name though!
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Slugs are bad enough, but now snails have joined the party in my garden. And boy can they climb! I’m constantly looking for S&S resistant plants. I must take some cuttings of my osteos as the sheep ate most of the ones in the ‘wild garden’ last year.
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Thank goodness I don’t have sheep!! The osteos seem resistant to the slime munchers. 🤞
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A lovely selection… apart from those slugs. Slugs and snails have been a real menace this spring – many of my Narcissus flowers were shredded over night. I fear for my seedlings once I move them from the window sill to the mini greenhouse. That Aquilegia ‘Lime Sorbet’ is very pretty indeed.
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I’ve got coffee grounds and beer traps at the ready but I’m really trying to leave seedlings safe for as long as possible
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Beer traps work pretty well with slugs, although I’ve never found a drowned snail in one – I have a feeling they can hold their liquor better.
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😂😂
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The clematis and aquilegia are wonderful. Those slugs are nasty creatures.
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Gads! I would be furious about such slug damage! The clematis and columbine are rad though.
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I am absolutely furious!!
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Perhaps I should not have mentioned the obvious.
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I’ve reached the stage where I’m really surprised if something hasn’t been attacked by S&Ss now. I love the sound of a chocolate scented Clematis!
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I have that feeling too. Now it’s my potatoes and some ivy! The clematis is really enjoying the sun and is very chocolatey today
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I feel your pain re the slugs and snails. They munched the top off some of my cana plants.
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Just seen they’ve stripped the green off the stem of my alliums!!
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