No compost bin yet, that’s next on my list of things that need sorting out. I’m not sure where I’d put it, but I’m sure one will fit back there somewhere.

I wouldn’t mind chickens but we can no more have them here than we can a goat. We have to wait until we move for that kind of adventure, but it is the future. I am very much looking forward to the future. :)

Do you have a compost set up?

I find that having a compost bin takes care of a lot of pest problems.

The pests bother the compost instead and do not attack my plants. The finished compost keeps the plants stronger and healthier and is a good mulch for the soil under them. This also deters pests like slugs and leaf eating insects. The healthier the plant and soil the less likely bugs will bother it.

Another thing that I do is to plant one decoy plant per bed, something more attractive and vulnerable to insects that will make it less worth their trouble to attack my crops and perennials.

Do reconsider your position on chickens. I know you want a goat but chickens are surprisingly appealing as pets and they are the all around best helpers for the garden. They make excellent compost and eat pests like slugs, snails, and beetles.

Think of all those fresh eggs!

How about crushed eggshells. Grind them up in a mortar and pestle or a rolling pin and sprinkle it around the stem and lower leaves of your plants. It deters cutworms and other crawly things. It might work on slugs.

Try circling each troubled plant with a small ring of eggshells and a larger ring of coffee grounds. Most coffee shops here will give you large bags of grounds for free if you ask them. Both coffee grounds and eggshells are good for the plants.

No chance of my garden not being watered at night. And in the day, and at dusk and at dawn… Yeah. England. I wonder if salt around the base of the plants would work? I hear seaweed works. Can you send me a box of seaweed? lol

I don’t want to murder the slugs. I’ll have to give them other things to eat.

You need chickens to eat your slugs. :)

My second favorite slug control method is Diatomaceous Earth, the fossilized remains of diatoms, a type of hard-shelled algae. Sprinkle that around your plants or even lightly dust the leaves with it. They will not crawl over it. Helps deter ants too. You can also use coffee grounds around the plants but not on the leaves.

Other methods to control slugs are not watering your garden at night but you live in England so that probably will not work as well for you.

Some people set out beer traps. Slugs like beer. They will drown in the trap though so I don’t like that method as well. I prefer to deter or remove most pests. Killing is a last resort, reserved for truly evil things…like flea beetles.

I can’t wait to get Dis to your house. He is going to love it every bit as much as I do.

The chipmunks, birds, and rabbits get most of it after the flea beetles do their bit. I just grow it for fun. I seem to have my own wildlife sanctuary going on here. :)