What's the stuff sprinkled on the ground to stop soft bellied insects(slugs,snails)

[the_red_bull]

All the DE I've ever used was white.

... okay

 

[HempHut]

Copper = electrical shock for snails/slugs. It reacts with their slime to produce the shock. It's like an electric fence powered by the very thing you want to repel.

A band of vaseline smeared around a container also works. I think it probably prevents them laying down their slime effectively so they can't cross over it.

 

[GeorgeSmiley]

Here's an article on several options but THE D/E inf os mostly what I'm pointing you to http://www.organicgardening.com/feature/0,7518,s1-2-9-1502,00.html

All food grade and horti DE (fossil shell four) is white. I've used it for a while now. It shreds the bodies as they move through it.

One thing you need to have a mask on, those little sharp particles do nothing good for your health.

I get 50lb bag for 20 but remember seeing a 2 or 3 pound box there. I mix it in my soil mix and then sprinkle it on top and work it in once it's dried a little. It def works. I use it in the garden outside mostly.

HTH

Smiley

 

[Xtensity]

Is there any normal hardware type store that would sell DE? Going to my hydrostore is so inconvenient lol, I figure the stuff is fairly common and used for more then just pest prevention.

 

[GeorgeSmiley]

I think every hardware store should have it. I can get it at home depot, lowes, ace hardware etc etc

You can get this brand almost anywhere

http://www.amazon.com/Concern-97024-Diatomaceous-Crawling-Insect/dp/B000BQT1HQ

Smiley

 

[Spanishwilly]

diatomaceous earth is black and jagged, it looks a lot like the stuff you'd use for a sandblaster.

I´ve never seen it black. It´s always white in my experience.

 

[Spanishwilly]

Snail Killer, comes in pellet form, green in colour and kills slugs too. You can also get pet friendly varieties cos the original one may kill a dog if ingested. Very effective. This in Oz though.

I tried this last year, and when I came back I thought I was hallucinating. The local ants carried it all away. Wierd to watch.

 

[Spanishwilly]

A band of vaseline smeared around a container also works. I think it probably prevents them laying down their slime effectively so they can't cross over it.

Is that for sure?