Woodlice (slater, pill bug etc) and slugs

[taobum]

I've recently moved into a rental house that has a courtyard with an established garden, (that i'm in the process of tweaking to my liking). There is however a lemon tree and mature maple that have been ravaged by woodlice living both in the trees and in the soil, and a never ending supply of small slugs that are devouring herbs and broad leafed plants. I have cats so am reluctant to use snail pellets for the slugs and I would like to save the two mature trees and stop the woodlice before they find my trees. Any ideas on control? Preferably chemical free, but all ideas welcome.

[taobum]

the lemon tree



the lemon tree



the maple

[rowan]

I could be wrong but as far as I know woodlice colonise already damaged wood, they don't cause it. They eat rotton wood, not healthy stuff so I believe that your trees are already seriously damaged by disease so getting rid of the slaters won't do any good.

Slugs are a different problem and if you can't borrow ducks,lol, you just might have to go with home-made traps.

[taobum]

thanks rowan, did a little reseaech this afternoon and found pretty much the same info on the slaters living on decay. will still try and work out how to save them, but luckily they are existing trees that were here when we moved in and not mine. And if i can't i can always layer the maple and get some nice new bonsai

as for the ducks, i have just put in a new pond......the cats would love it

[Matt Jermy]

beer traps for the slugs. works great.
Matt.

[taobum]

ha ha one for you....two for me