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Post by oldbean on Jun 1, 2007 8:57:17 GMT
Yes, I admit it, before I left for work this morning I committed multiple murders on two nasty gangs who are trying to claim my garden as their turf.
The first lot that I came across were wearing their own gang jackets and they were trying to make a new crib (I know the street slang!) in my French Beans. I did not flinch but immediately went for hand to shell combat, I pick off each of the little blighters and stomped on them! However, if I find them in the front garden, where I can be seen, I feel that I have to give them a chance and toss them into the road, I figure that if they can dodge the traffic then they deserve to live.
I then made my way down the garden path and where I came across the second posse... they were not wearing jackets but were bedecked in gang colours (bright orange underneath). I knew that the stomp would not work with them and just went with straight revenge... you eat my peas and lupins then you will suffer. I dashed back into the kitchen for the weapon of choice... a large tin of Saxa Salt... now I was armed and to them extremely dangerous. I crept back out quietly and with no prior notice began to sprinkle... it was not a pretty sight but I knew that they would not make it out alive.
In mitigation, I have ignored the Leafcutter bees who seem to have taken a liking to my roses and I only chase next door's cat when it is using my garden as an en-suite.
Please tell me Rev Michael, can I still go to heaven especially as I think I might do it again? And I might change from salt to rolled oats if it stops raining...
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Post by revmichael on Jun 1, 2007 9:27:58 GMT
Well my friend, or should I say 'Old Bean' if such things prevented us from getting to heaven - then I won't be there either.
PMR makes good use of salt - especially on ants.
It's strange isn't it? When my next to youngest tyg was little (he's now 27 and far from little) his mother found him pulling the wings off a ladybird in the kitchen. She stopped him and told him it was cruel. Just after that he called out to his mother, 'Mummy there's another lovely ladybird' and pointed to the floor. His mother quickly lifted her foot and stamped on saying, 'That's not a ladybird; it's a spider.'
Then she realized what she'd done; it's no wonder he was confused.
I have the same problem. I have no difficulty in killing slugs when they want to invade my sweet peas (one of the few annuals that I grow) but I won't yet replace the broken tile in front of my house because some sparrows have built a nest in there.
Hindus have no inconsistency about these things (and treat all animals with great care), but I'm not a Hindu.
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Post by Shuggie on Jun 1, 2007 10:00:46 GMT
When my next to youngest tyg was little (he's now 27 and far from little) his mother found him pulling the wings off a ladybird in the kitchen. She stopped him and told him it was cruel. Just after that he called out to his mother, 'Mummy there's another lovely ladybird' and pointed to the floor. His mother quickly lifted her foot and stamped on saying, 'That's not a ladybird; it's a spider.' YESSSSS - like it!
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Post by faeryboots on Jun 1, 2007 11:55:41 GMT
Do rolled oats work? My bliddy runner beans are suffering!
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Post by oldbean on Jun 1, 2007 12:30:23 GMT
Well, if runner beans are suffering, it is a cause close to my heart! I might be related... although really I am a coffee bean.
You need a couple of dry days for obvious reasons though, but if you put a circle of oats around the plants like a moat the slugs and snails don't like it at all as it drys them out and they cannot move without the slime element. This has the added advantage of providing a nutricious treat for the birds too.
Good luck FB
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Post by faeryboots on Jun 1, 2007 13:02:56 GMT
Well, if runner beans are suffering, it is a cause close to my heart! I might be related... although really I am a coffee bean. You need a couple of dry days for obvious reasons though, but if you put a circle of oats around the plants like a moat the slugs and snails don't like it at all as it drys them out and they cannot move without the slime element. This has the added advantage of providing a nutricious treat for the birds too. Good luck FB Thanks Old Bean, I shall give it a go!
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Post by Shuggie on Jun 1, 2007 14:17:12 GMT
Well, if runner beans are suffering, it is a cause close to my heart! I might be related... although really I am a coffee bean. You need a couple of dry days for obvious reasons though, but if you put a circle of oats around the plants like a moat the slugs and snails don't like it at all as it drys them out and they cannot move without the slime element. This has the added advantage of providing a nutricious treat for the birds too. Good luck FB Thanks Old Bean, I shall give it a go! Crushed baked eggshells are also good .. and have the advantage over rolled oats in that the birds don't keep eating them
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Post by carlott on Jun 1, 2007 15:31:59 GMT
Has anyone had any luck with copper bands? Their slime acts as an electrolyte and gives the beggars a shock - not quite as dramatic as being stomped upon it must be acknowledged
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Bromhamtog
TOG
I'll swing for that cat.........
Posts: 437
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Post by Bromhamtog on Jun 1, 2007 16:54:27 GMT
Has anyone had any luck with copper bands? Their slime acts as an electrolyte and gives the beggars a shock - not quite as dramatic as being stomped upon it must be acknowledged I haven't bought the rings, but I have put copper tape around an old porcelain sink that I have by the back door and that has worked - no leather clad thugs in there!
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Post by Leigh Djonn on Jun 2, 2007 4:09:21 GMT
We have never had a slug problem with our runner beans. We don't put anything down either. We have never had a snail problem with our runner beans either - yes they like to climb to the top of the pole to play "I'm the king of the castle" but they don't do any damage when they get there.
Slugs - the larger they are the less damage they will cause to your plants. It is the small grey ones that you have to worry about and they re-bury themselves into the ground during the day. The large orange/black/grey/brown ones although ugly and icky and slimy etc actually eat rotting/dead vegetation rather than live growth.
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Post by revmichael on Jun 2, 2007 7:06:24 GMT
We have never had a slug problem with our runner beans. We don't put anything down either. We have never had a snail problem with our runner beans either - yes they like to climb to the top of the pole to play "I'm the king of the castle" but they don't do any damage when they get there.
Slugs - the larger they are the less damage they will cause to your plants. It is the small grey ones that you have to worry about and they re-bury themselves into the ground during the day. The large orange/black/grey/brown ones although ugly and icky and slimy etc actually eat rotting/dead vegetation rather than live growth.
I never knew that before. But I still don't want to cuddle those large orange/black/grey/brown ones!
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