Slugging it out!

Bountiful rain has brought a bounty of slugs, says Peter

- Peter Seabrook

SPENDING time most days of the week in the Floral Fantasia Seasonal Colour area at the RHS Hyde Hall Garden gives me the opportunity to meet a wide cross-section of the public. I have noticed that a lot of younger people are visiting and showing a keen interest in plants and gardens. When visitors ask questions, it takes a little time to assess how much they know already, before answering and giving appropriate advice. Knowing how to cope with a veritable invasion of slugs and snails is a common problem, especially after the steady delivery of heavy rain and showers through June and July.

A keen and experienced gardener of my acquaintance, fed up with slug and snail damage on sunflowers, went out after dark with a torch and on the first night gathered up 250! The next night, it was just 50, so this exercise will certainly dramatically reduce populations.