Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.1 ggr 10/28/83; site pyuxdd.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!floyd!harpo!eagle!pyuxdd!rib From: rib@pyuxdd.UUCP (RI Block) Newsgroups: net.garden Subject: Re: use of black plastic sheeting Message-ID: <228@pyuxdd.UUCP> Date: Wed, 14-Mar-84 08:58:01 EST Article-I.D.: pyuxdd.228 Posted: Wed Mar 14 08:58:01 1984 Date-Received: Thu, 15-Mar-84 01:34:24 EST References: <139@hercules.UUCP> Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Piscataway Lines: 27 While wet weather is common to the Pacific NW, it was not a problem here in Central NJ until last year. I had an *invasion* of slugs. Black plastic is a slug-related problem only at the corners of the season; late spring and summer days are hot enough to *cook* any slugs that would venture under the plastic. There does not seem to be a really satifactory approach to slugs; I don't know of any biological controls and metaldehyde pellets are toxic to children and pets. The control which I do know of: - Beer (yeast is the active attactant) - Slug traps (contain the poison & shield from rain) - Decoys (cabbage leaves or boards left out and checked) - Gritty impediments (wood ashes) - Rigorous cleanup of garden area - Handpick at night - 1% acetic acid spray during (night) feeding time None of these are specific to balck plastic, of course; the idea is to keep the population down in the general area. I would love to hear other ideas on slug control because the creatures do a real number on my head lettuce (which of course grows only during prime slug time).