Together, they become a small greenhouse in which plants can thrive protected from slugs, snails, wind, and weather.
Another way to improve the effectiveness is to close the opening of the collar with mosquito or fruit tree nets.
Then the plants are protected not only from slugs but also, for example, from the cabbage white butterfly and similar pests.
This is recommended especially for homemade slug collars – as can be seen in the following video.
Video: Homemade slug collars
If you do not understand German, just copy what you can see and use generated subtitles for more detailed information:
DIY – Make Slug Collars Yourself
As the video shows, old plastic buckets can easily be transformed into slug collars – especially handy if they come with a lid.
This helps to save money and is fun to do.
Just take big yogurt/to-go coffee cups or plastic buckets – the best are those with a wide edge.
The perfect slug collar has a lid.
Remove the bottom of the cup/bucket, and you have your homemade slug collar.
Unfortunately, these homemade models are usually less effective because their edges are not wide enough.
A small drawback to making them yourself is also that these buckets or pails are not typically transparent and can therefore cast a shadow over the plants.
For small plants, non-transparent models are not ideal, but for larger plants, this is not a problem.
If possible, try to use transparent cups/buckets.
You can also attempt to find models that come with a lid.
Slug collars with lid are only available in Europe: Offer on Amazon.
As long as the plants are still small, a cover gives additional protection – especially at night.
If your cups do not come with a lid, it is also possible to make some yourself.
A piece of wood, plastic, or cardboard can be cut to shape a lid that fits in or on top of the collar’s opening.
This will enhance the level of protection as a lid also protects against frost, hail, birds, rabbits, and so on.
The main downside is that slug/snail collars offer protection only to a few plants.
Therefore, it can become difficult and expensive to secure a large garden with many plants. Then a slug fence would be a better solution.
Another problem is that it is quite difficult to protect tall and big plants.
They grow over the edge more quickly and bridges can form, which slugs could use to get through the barrier.
Since the collars are not deeply embedded in the soil (only a couple of inches/centimeters), they cannot protect the plants against slugs that live and move underground; for example, gray field slugs.
Moreover, some collars are not very robust and can break by being pushed deep into the ground.
You need to handle them carefully.
Another drawback is that the plastic rings might be regarded as unaesthetic in the garden.
Advantages
A snail collar also works well and safely against Spanish slugs.
Salads or cabbages, for example, can be protected quickly and easily.
This method is humane. No slug or snail will be injured, and yet the plants are protected.
Another advantage is that the collars help to water the plants more efficiently.
The collar serves as slug protection and as a pouring ring at the same time.
Perhaps their biggest advantage is that it is possible to combine them with garden cloches and mosquito nets.
This offers many possibilities and makes slug collars especially attractive for protecting young plants in spring.
Conclusion
Slug collars provide good protection that defends plants against slugs and snails.
In combination with garden cloches, they even become mini-greenhouses.
Their price (around 1 to 2 dollars/pounds/euros each) is affordable, considering that they can be used again and again for many years.
Slug collars will make your garden a more peaceful place with no need to kill slugs and snails.
Great website and research. I am in US and slugs are my enemy number 1!
Love the slug collar design but frustrated that only available amazon.co.uk which will not ship to me. i went direct to comapny website, Garden Selections and found a much better price anyway. I purchased through paypal which applied the appropriate currency and had them shipped to a new found friend in the UK. They will ship parcel to me and I can reimburse through paypal again. Should be a little over$2 each/guard once shipped. Not great but not bad if they work and they last.
I am really interested in the slug fence but didnt pursue shipping of the long pieces. I am going to attempt to bend my own with 8″ wide rolled aluminum flashing. Its easy to work with and quite pliabe, i just worry about rigidity.
The Schnexagon paint looks incredible but appears to be no longer manufactured. Now that I have an avenue to purchase from Europe I would like to try it. Do you have contact with the company about current or future production of the paint?
Disadvantages of Slug Collars
Disadvantages of Slug Collars
Advantages
Conclusion
Great website and research. I am in US and slugs are my enemy number 1!
Love the slug collar design but frustrated that only available amazon.co.uk which will not ship to me. i went direct to comapny website, Garden Selections and found a much better price anyway. I purchased through paypal which applied the appropriate currency and had them shipped to a new found friend in the UK. They will ship parcel to me and I can reimburse through paypal again. Should be a little over$2 each/guard once shipped. Not great but not bad if they work and they last.
I am really interested in the slug fence but didnt pursue shipping of the long pieces. I am going to attempt to bend my own with 8″ wide rolled aluminum flashing. Its easy to work with and quite pliabe, i just worry about rigidity.
The Schnexagon paint looks incredible but appears to be no longer manufactured. Now that I have an avenue to purchase from Europe I would like to try it. Do you have contact with the company about current or future production of the paint?
Thx much
Any chance your UK friend would ship to me in YS?