Regarding slugs and hostas.

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Author Message   Otnorot  Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 03:10 pm EST :    The best thing to use is diatomaceous earth,to you and your pets its flower powder but to ALL BUGS its like walking/crawling over broken glass.Walking bugs get it caught in their joints and cuts so badly they bleed to death,same with slugs/snalls.Pool or garden diatomaceous earth its the same thing only the price is different.I've used it for over 50 years. Otnorot - Ont, Zone "6A"   Jims_wsw  My Weather Posted on Monday, June 11, 2007 - 07:37 pm EST :    Sunday I did 2 posts to the "tonights picture" posting because the topic had turned to slug control. <I saw at a local nursery & feed store a big box of (probably spelled wrong) diacaminous earth, in the section for swimming pool supplies. I vaguely remember reading somewhere that this was prickly rocky stuff that snail & slugs hate to cross. But I thought that it was more expensive than the $12 or so for the swimming pool stuff. Was for about 20 pounds. Has anyone ever tried the garden kind and/or the swimming pool kind and are they the same? > And later, after someone on another forum gave me right name to look for. <Did a google & found answer to my question. One site said "Diatomaceous Earth sold for swimming pool filters is dangerous to human health, your pets and Livestock. It has been chemically treated and heated to change it's composition."> And now you say you have used both with no bad effects. Do you think that the website said this to promote their more expensive product? Do you wear a dust filter mask when applying it? The liquid I mentioned in those posts didn't seem to do much with hose application this afternoon. Might try with watering can in a different area, where s &s aren't so bad. Marie in ME Jims_wsw Maine zone 5a   Otnorot  Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 04:27 am EST :    Emmamarie its used in pools as a filter being like glass it catches everything in the water.For years they have sold a Diatomaceous filter for aquariums which I have used.In your part of the country the Diatomaceous earth could be treated but I dont know why a manufacturer would fix something that does'nt need fixing lowering his profit.I hate to say this but I never used a mask and I should have. Bill Otnorot - Ont, Zone "6A"   Otnorot  Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 06:44 am EST :    Marie I also googled it and found the pool brands are toxic and not as effective as garden type so an old dog can learn new tricks I do apologize passing on bad information. Bill Otnorot - Ont, Zone "6A"   Cindym  My Weather Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 10:21 am EST :    I never had much luck with DE. I find Escar-Go! to be more effective in my yard. http://www.gardensalive.com/product.asp?pn=2111 Cindym - LA, Zone "8b"   Otnorot  Posted on Tuesday, June 12, 2007 - 12:21 pm EST :    Cindym the best thing about Escar-Go is it does not need replacing after rain and it kills internally. Otnorot - Ont, Zone "6A"   Big_bwana  Posted on Saturday, May 10, 2008 - 08:02 pm EST :    Jims_wsw, both the pool and garden diatomaceous earth is toxic, but by ingestion you would have to eat pounds of it and it will plug you up, (( it doesn't taste yummy so this shouldn't be a problem , unless you like eating sticks of chalk )) The Dust or inhalation, is where it becomes a problem because it sits in your lungs for years and this can lead to silicosis or other lung injuries, and the pool stuff may not be as clean or my have some other compound contaminating it like old time vermiculite or Zonealite which did contain asbestos... Just ask the supplier to give you a M.S.D.S. and it will give you more information, and yes even a store like walmart can supply you with a M.S.D.S. if you ask for it ..... Big_bwana - Alberta, Zone "3a"   Zephirine  Posted on Friday, May 16, 2008 - 10:59 pm EST :    For those really in despair, I can only recommend this very useful booklet... http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/reader/0600608581/ref=sib_dp_pt/202-7487441-7669 453#reader-page Why "useful"? Because it not only lists the 50 ways in question, but both the text and the drawings will bring back to life and smile any collapsing hostaholic! Zephirine - Rhone-Alpes, Zone "7B"   Terryk  Supporting Member My Weather My Garden My Time Posted on Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 05:55 am EST :    I heard you can use turkey grit to circle the hosta. It is a rougher texture than chick grit and if they go over it, they are history. . Terryk - NY, Zone "6"   Gardenbug  Supporting Member Posted on Sunday, May 18, 2008 - 08:17 pm EST :    And what about the 1 part bleach to 9 parts water method in early spring? This is supposed to get rid of slugs well. My friend swears by it. Gardenbug - Ontario, Zone "4/5"   Trillium2  My Weather Posted on Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 07:24 pm EST :    I just read in the paper, that if you take the lint fron your dryer screen and roll it up into a sort of rope and circle the base of the hosta, slugs won't cross over it. Before I read this, I used to make a ring of pennies at the base, as they won't cross over copper either. Trillium2 - California, Zone "sunset zone 2a regular zone 7"

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