Dealing with slugs and snails

In my opinion, it is nigh on impossible to completely get rid of slugs and snails.  I've tried every type of deterrent from blue coloured pellets (nasty and more environmnetally friendly), copper strips, broken shells, coffee grinds, nematodes, sharp grit, broken egg shells, garlic spray, beer, milk - the lot.  I have come to this conclusion, your slug and snail infestation is a function of three things:

1.  The tastiness of your plants to slugs and snails - use more of the ones they don't like and plant sacrificial plants
2.  The amount of time you spend hunting them down and removing them - best done after a downpour in the evening in torchlight
3.  The number of all the deterrents you use - the more the better

Of all the deterrents, nematodes, pellets and garlic spray (lazy garlic and boiling water left overnight to cool) work well, especially in combination.  All of them need to be used frequently.

Remember if you use pellets, collect the dead slugs and snails up so birds and other predators do not consume the poison.

However, if you do not hunt them down and remove them as well, your efforts will be largely in vain.  They hide in sheltered spots like under stones and the lips and undersides of pots and planters.

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