Biological pest control – testing different type of soil covers to reduce slug damage

A small experiment explored how slug damage on lettuce could be reduced.

Two main approaches were chosen:

• Different types of lettuce were planted ("normal" green lettuce, and red-leaved lettuce, both soft-leaved varieties).

• Different types of soil cover were used in order to make access to the lettuce plants difficult for the slugs, and ideally impossible.

Various materials were used for soil coverage: wood chips, straw, sandpaper, fabric cover.

Observations were made during the vegetative period (in this case one month) for lettuce, planted as seedlings.

The results were twofold:

• Red lettuce was not attractive to slugs, and was left alone, while green lettuce was targeted.

• Cover effectiveness was rated as follows: sandpaper (expense!) was very effective, not much less effective however than straw and wood chip covers, followed by fabric cover.