Just made a stroll around my garden examining how everybody is getting along. Well....not so good. Never seen so many pill bugs in my life and they are making a feast of the plants. I put out snail and slug bait and it has molded from all the rain. I'm afraid that the bugs are going to win. What do you use to give the plants an upper hand. I clean any debris around them everyday. Help.
Pill Bugs, Rolly Pollys, ie.
Wood ashes sprinkled around the plants keeps them away.
I've noticed some but not to the same extent as LouC. Maybe b/c my yard is so wet right now that you HAVE to wear clogs or rubber boots.
Josphine, when you say wood ashes, do you mean like what I clean out of my fireplace every winter day?
Yes, you can save those and keep them dry, they have many good uses.
Sprinkle used coffee grounds around the plants and walkways. Will keep them away. It's also good for your soil! I know that Starbucks gives their grounds away, so if you have one nearby, stop in and pick some up.
Make sure you get to Starbucks bright and early---early bird gets the worm---we've gone in around 8-9 on Saturday mornings and they've already been picked up!
GREAT tips on keeping pests at bay!
Thank you. We have been saving our own coffee grounds for sometime now. I sprinkle them in/over the iris bed. Did not know they had other uses. Will try this today. Alas, we have gas logs and a gas grill.
It depends on the Starbucks. Some have regular customers that pick them up really often, some don't. Sometimes it's easier to find the grounds on weekdays, since so many people will wait until they're out and about on weekends to check. And it's the free-standing Starbucks that are obligated to save the grounds for customers. The ones inside other places, such as Barnes & Nobles or Super Targets, for example, may or may not, because they don't fall under the same rules as the other Starbucks. Coffee grounds are fantastic amendments to garden soil or to compost. Earthworms love them!
Is is True ?Coffee grounds? I have been over run with pill bugs every since I moved here I didnt even know they were a pest untill now.If this works I will be so happy
The only thing that worked for me last year when they were attacking my potted plants, was Diatomaceous earth. I only tried organic remedies, but the DE worked great so I did not have to try anything else. I dusted in around all the plants and came back to find lots of crispy pill bug shells. You do have to reapply it after rain or watering though.
I used coffee grounds around my hostas to keep the snails away, but the roly polies were feasting on it. I know snails are attracted by the yeast in beer. I wonder if roly polies aretoo. Coffee grounds are still a good idea because it brings in worms. It also balances the Ph in the soil. I heard wood ashes make the soil alkaline, which is not what we need here in limestone country. Josephine you are probably much more acidic than we are, yes?
Possibly Mary Lee, but I very rarely use them, and a little sprinkle should not do any harm.