Gardening Naturally Strawberry Mats Copper Impregnated Keep Slugs & Snails away from plants 11" (27cm) Diameter (20)

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Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours. Rejuvenate strawberry plants by cutting them back when they have finished fruiting and applying a feed. Also, ensure that the plants' leaves do not hang over the edge of the mat to prevent pests from bypassing the barrier. Help the soil retain both moisture and warmth by placing these organic fyba mats around the base of strawberry plants, the mats will also protect the crop from soil and rain splashes, keep lower leaves clean and dry and help deter slugs - Also suitable for lettuces and newly planted shrubs and roses. You can reduce this risk by keeping the pea seedlings under cover until they are about 10cm tall, when you can plant them outside and they’ll be more robust.

I use the under side which isn't as smooth as the surface side so I'm hoping the slugs won't like to go over it. Burford Strawberry Mats come in packets of six and are constructed of a strong, UV resistant material that will last more than one season. Last year I made a raised strawberry bed like a long, thin sheep feeding trough on stilts and the fruit lolled over the sides, making a fine spectacle. It also makes a convenient prop for covering the crop with netting should you need to keep birds at bay. The plants need regular feeding when fruits start forming - a high-potash tomato liquid feed is best, applied weekly.As well as harvesting the tasty fruits of mid and late season varieties, new plants can be produced by pegging the newly-formed runners (trails of growth which spread out over the soil surface) into small pots sunk into the ground.

I laid down some of this in my mum's garden and not only does it look good, it also keep the slugs of her flowerbeds. The incorporation of well-rotted organic matter into the soil a few weeks before planting will be beneficial, as will the application of a good quality, granular, general purpose fertiliser immediately prior to planting.Maybe the slugs are having a council of war to decide on a plan to reach the strawberries without having to touch the lino. I bought some of that animal friendly snail killer (because I have hedgehogs in my garden) and the slugs just crawled over it and carried on eating my plants.

Fortunately, they are one of the easiest and most reliable fruits to grow and ideal for raising either in the open ground or in containers on the terrace.I had a similar idea in mind but was trying to find a "material" with a rough surface, something like coarse sandpaper but obviously that would be too expensive. The young fruits are often targeted by birds, so it may be worth pushing short sticks into the ground in the four corners of the bed (so the tips are just above the top of the plants) and securing bird-scaring tape between them. If you grow early and mid-season strawberries in a fruitcage, you'll enjoy a harvest lasting several weeks. There are also perpetual varieties available, which can be used to extend the season by producing fruits from August to the first frosts. These collars are designed to stop slugs and snails from reaching the base of the plant, effectively preventing damage to the fruit and leaves.