Beginner Gardening: Any tips for keeping slugs at bay?, 1 by Noreaster

Noreaster wrote:
Ok, folks, I am cautiously optimistic on the effectiveness copper bands. I captured a slug the other day and dropped in the center of a 3 inch high copper ring and watched him try to get out for about 90 minutes. He first did laps around the ring a few times before gathering the nerve to try to climb it. I groaned when I saw him making his way up...however, he turned back after about an inch. That happened a few times, before he finally gave up and buried himself in the soil for a nap. I actually felt bad for torturing him for 90 minutes, so I actually let him go, far away from my plants.

Because he wasn't a big slug, I have concerns that the bigger boys will be able to climb a three inch band. I guess it will depend on how hungry they are Certainly, the one inch tape they sell does not seem adequate, based on my observation this weekend. I plan on using the rings on the handful of slug attractive hosta cultivars in my garden, and I will also have to devise a way to keep the leaves from hitting the ground with those plants.