Copper Slug Tape Multibuy 3 x 4m rolls

Product Information

Copper pennies and wire do not seem to work. Most products on the market are a type of copper foil or copper tape so this might work better and in fact some people suggest that a wider strip is better than a narrow strip. Copper DOES work as a slug and snail barrier if the percentage of copper alloy is high enough and the width is in excess of 4 cms. Don’t waste money on any of the other ‘gardening’ products tested above and be cautious of using anything else that comes in a similar sized box ( or from a matching production line…). I’m so chuffed I found this piece of yours! Ha fantastic! Really appreciate the time you’ve taken on the copper tape to pass it on to everyone .How generous of you .Saving us time effort and much needed cash ..I too love anything with Monty Don and sobbed last night after watching Gardeners World to hear Nigel had passed away. It’s that time of year when slugs and snails creep out of the woodwork ( quite literally) and look for sources of food after their winter hibernation. My alliums are currently being ravaged and I’m out in the garden with a torch at 10pm on most evenings removing the hungry little beasts. Last year I conducted some tests to disprove the value of egg shells, pistachio nut shells, hair and chilli powder in preventing slugs and snails from eating our plants, all were easily crossed by snails. Young chopped brambles were a surprise snail barrier success though.

My criticism of your comments on ‘Electrical current’ as it related to the use of copper is that it represented a deductive approach not an empirical one. Things often fail or succeed for reasons other than we anticipate. There is no substitute for testing. My friend suggested garlic water sprayed on the plants and left to dry. Apparently they don’t like the taste. Reapply every 2 weeks. Recipe below. Does this work? Jeff Gillman, one of the Garden Professors, commented “When I’ve tested copper the slugs seemed to have a slight preference for not crossing it, but would if that was what they need to do to get where they were going. I’d call it a mild repellant” . I think this is a good summary. Slugs will not go out of their way to cross copper in tape form, but it is not a fool proof solution.

Why Does Copper Work?

Jones added: “Slug pellets do have their problems but they have been tested for safety and when used to their manufacturers’ instructions the risks are quite minimal. It becomes dangerous for pets and other wildlife when they are overapplied.” My older planters have 6 month old copper mesh barriers and I have yet to notice any obvious decrease in effectiveness with oxidation/dirt, but if there down the road maybe I can mitigate it with a firm wire brush scrub.

Regardless of exactly why it works, I would recommend copper mesh to anyone with a slug problem amenable to a physical barrier who isn’t too concerned about the aesthetics. Simple test. Fit copper tape round terracotta pot. Place 6 slug pellets on top of pot. Leave over night. Other popular methods for getting rid of slugs include coffee grounds, and beer. For more information on these methods have a look at:

How we tested the barriers

Copper sulphate is made by combining copper alloy with sulphuric acid. Whilst sulphur dioxide emissions from power stations have dropped enormously in Western Europe since the 1980s, there is still enough in the atmosphere for rain to contain traces of sulphuric acid. In certain places within the UK you will be receiving higher doses of sulphuric acid in your rain than others. What happens when this acid rain lands on copper alloy tape on your outdoor plant pots? It makes trace amounts of copper sulphate which runs down your pot and into the soil. I therefore put it to you that as the copper tape weathers, in some areas it releases traces of copper sulphate which makes it even more potent, especially on more porous terracotta pots that can hold onto the copper sulphate. If you live in a city there’s probably more chance of copper tape having this effect than if you live in the countryside. I can’t prove that it exists but it would seem logical. Great to see… to add to the video list, I liked this one on the topic: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZFn9TT_rlXU Encourage their natural predators into your garden by creatinga haven for wildlife, such as birds and frogs. Don’t want to kill slugs, just deter them. Someone suggested mint leaves-dry. He/she didn’t know if it worked when wet. I don’t believe in killing slugs–whenever man invades Nature by killing off it’s creatures, it creates an imbalance somewhere else (as we have SLOWLY learned). Man (and other people) are the worst environmental stewards.