Pacific Northwest Garden Forum: Slugs and Snails

Author

Message

bobm1
Rainy Side Gardener

Joined: Jan-29-2009
Location: Washington, Southwestern
Posts: 101

Topic: Slugs and Snails
Posted: Jun-02-2010 at 12:36pm

Whith all of this moisture in the air and lush new green growth... where are all of the slugs and snails? I have yet to see one since I came to the PNW.

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DebbieTT
Admin Group

Sunset zone 5, USDA zone 8

Joined: Jan-25-2003
Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula
Posts: 4306

Posted: Jun-02-2010 at 12:51pm

It's a myth we use here in the PNW to keep outsiders from moving here.

But seriously you must not be looking hard enough. Look for them after the sun goes down or in the early morning. Do you see evidence of damage on your plants? If you don't, you must not be growing plants that slugs eat. They are out there, they are everywhere, slithering around in search of food. Be afraid, be very afraid!

I am beginning to think you live in a bubble, you don't see birds, you don't see slugs, you don't get enough bug splatters on the window. Are you sure you are in the Pacific Northwest?

Edited by DebbieTT - Jun-02-2010 at 12:57pm

When the going gets tough, the tough need a hug.

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bobm1
Rainy Side Gardener

Joined: Jan-29-2009
Location: Washington, Southwestern
Posts: 101

Posted: Jun-02-2010 at 1:22pm

I don't even see the slime trails eather. I just checked the map, the GPS, looked outside and I see lots of trees and GREEN grass, checked my pulse and all these confirm I am in Vancouver, Wa.. I guess that at least in my area we have much fewer of these beasties than in Cal. where we had great flocks,hordes, and swarms. Coyotes by the dozens, and ground squerrels by the hundreds too.Tree squerrels only in parks and maybe in areas just around the parks. However I see many more ducks, geese, racoons, possums, and tons of tree squirrels.

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JeanneK
Mod
Mod

Joined: Jul-28-2003
Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro
Posts: 2178

Posted: Jun-02-2010 at 2:47pm

Bobm1, that may be the reason you aren't seeing as many slugs - they are a tasty treat for ducks, geese and raccoons. Not sure about opossums or squirrels.

In the last two years, I seem to have fewer slugs too. I do know that a family of raccoons moved in two years ago. We've also had two years of several week cold spells.

Jeanne

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HarleyLady
Rainy Side Gardener

Joined: Jul-27-2003
Location: Willamette Valley
Posts: 981

Posted: Jun-02-2010 at 6:00pm

This year, I have the worst slug n' snail infestation ever despite steady and consistent applications of iron phosphate, coffee grounds, hand picking etc. I must confess, it's probably my own fault: as part of transitioning to a lower maintenance garden, I've used more mulch than ever before. So, now I've got far fewer weeds and less watering, but I've created a slug haven. Lace-leaf hostas, anyone? The dry, parched bare earth was much less hospitable to the slimers.

Edited by HarleyLady - Jun-03-2010 at 8:46am

HarleyLady

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Flora & Fauna
Pacific Northwest Garden Forum : The Gardens : Flora & Fauna

Author	Message
bobm1 Rainy Side Gardener Joined: Jan-29-2009 Location: Washington, Southwestern Posts: 101	Topic: Slugs and Snails Posted: Jun-02-2010 at 12:36pm
	Whith all of this moisture in the air and lush new green growth... where are all of the slugs and snails? I have yet to see one since I came to the PNW.

	IP Logged

DebbieTT Admin Group Sunset zone 5, USDA zone 8 Joined: Jan-25-2003 Location: Washington, Kitsap Peninsula Posts: 4306	Posted: Jun-02-2010 at 12:51pm
	It's a myth we use here in the PNW to keep outsiders from moving here. But seriously you must not be looking hard enough. Look for them after the sun goes down or in the early morning. Do you see evidence of damage on your plants? If you don't, you must not be growing plants that slugs eat. They are out there, they are everywhere, slithering around in search of food. Be afraid, be very afraid! I am beginning to think you live in a bubble, you don't see birds, you don't see slugs, you don't get enough bug splatters on the window. Are you sure you are in the Pacific Northwest? Edited by DebbieTT - Jun-02-2010 at 12:57pm
	When the going gets tough, the tough need a hug.
	IP Logged

bobm1 Rainy Side Gardener Joined: Jan-29-2009 Location: Washington, Southwestern Posts: 101	Posted: Jun-02-2010 at 1:22pm
	I don't even see the slime trails eather. I just checked the map, the GPS, looked outside and I see lots of trees and GREEN grass, checked my pulse and all these confirm I am in Vancouver, Wa.. I guess that at least in my area we have much fewer of these beasties than in Cal. where we had great flocks,hordes, and swarms. Coyotes by the dozens, and ground squerrels by the hundreds too.Tree squerrels only in parks and maybe in areas just around the parks. However I see many more ducks, geese, racoons, possums, and tons of tree squirrels.
	IP Logged

JeanneK Mod Joined: Jul-28-2003 Location: Oregon, Greater Portland Metro Posts: 2178	Posted: Jun-02-2010 at 2:47pm
	Bobm1, that may be the reason you aren't seeing as many slugs - they are a tasty treat for ducks, geese and raccoons. Not sure about opossums or squirrels. In the last two years, I seem to have fewer slugs too. I do know that a family of raccoons moved in two years ago. We've also had two years of several week cold spells.
	Jeanne
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HarleyLady Rainy Side Gardener Joined: Jul-27-2003 Location: Willamette Valley Posts: 981	Posted: Jun-02-2010 at 6:00pm
	This year, I have the worst slug n' snail infestation ever despite steady and consistent applications of iron phosphate, coffee grounds, hand picking etc. I must confess, it's probably my own fault: as part of transitioning to a lower maintenance garden, I've used more mulch than ever before. So, now I've got far fewer weeds and less watering, but I've created a slug haven. Lace-leaf hostas, anyone? The dry, parched bare earth was much less hospitable to the slimers. Edited by HarleyLady - Jun-03-2010 at 8:46am
	HarleyLady
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