We are receiving a drenching rain that started yesterday at about dark and still continues. What kind of bugs should I look for after the rain stops?? I mean, is there any thing in particular that hatches or comes out after such rain, or should I just be on the lookout for everything? Also, this rain was not expected, so, my brugs need feeding. I use Cal Mag, but have not used it for several days. How about using Epsom Salt while it's raining, I have not used it all year. I'm just not sure if I should use ES, since I've already used Cal Mag, that's a question. Last question, how large should I make the copper wire rings for the slugs, and what happens if they are covered with soil, should I make sure they are always above the soill?? Thanks!!!
After the rain...
Sherry, I think the theory here is that slugs won't crawl on copper because it shocks them, therefore the copper would have to be where the slug would come in contact with it. I've used them before, but found that the slugs would climb up a neighboring plant and come across where the two plants touched.
Well, shoot!! I guess I'll just save my copper wire and make jewelry. Thank you so very moocho, Linda!! I think I will just put the wire on some plants in pots that don't have anything close to them, just to see if it works. My new garden guru, G-Man, told me to check for slugs by putting a board down between plants that were slug magnets, leave it for a while then check for slugs. I did it and there were about 5 slugs under it which I salted. I keep the board, keep moving it around and checking and I haven't had any lately, but I've used the DE twice, after using other products, but since the second time I used the DE, I have not had any more slugs under the boards. I dunno.
Sherry
Sherry,
The DE worked for me, also, but you need to powder everything down again after it stops raining. I try to remember to use it after every rain.The slug/snail eggs are in the soil and they can hatch out for years to come.
I remember reading that slugs go deep in the ground when it is dry then come back out after a rain, so make sure your boards (shingles, cardboard, etc.) are down sometime today so you can
kill whatever may surface.
Judy
This message was edited May 29, 2005 1:58 PM