Keeping slugs off mushroom logs

I don't know about you, but I've had it with slugs chewing on my mushrooms, so I've been working on various ways to create 'slug barriers' to keep them off my logs. Not wanting to use commercial slug bait or beer traps, I settled on working with copper.

My first creation was to build a crib of sorts. It's a pretty simple design, all you need are 4 logs (preferably debarked) and some copper pipe. I had some scrap 3/4" pipe on hand, so I went with that.

-  The logs should be about 48" long and 4-6" diameter.
-  Drill two holes in each log (matching the pipe diameter), about 30" apart.  **NOTE: do not drill all the way through the logs, 2-3" deep should be adequate**.
-  Insert 8" lengths of copper pipe into the holes on two of the logs (this needs to be a snug fit, I used a rubber mallet to drive them home). These will be your base logs.  
-  Then bridge the first two logs with the second set and hammer them home.
-  Stack your mushroom logs on top and you're done!

If you find the base logs wanting to roll over on you, drive a couple of lengths of rebar through the base logs approx 12-18" into the ground in order to stabllize them.

This setup worked out pretty well for me. After using this system for a year, I only found one or two slugs made their way to the mushrooms. After looking it over, I figure they crawled up a nearby twig to the stacked logs, so it's a good idea to keep the area free of any nearby brush or tall grass.

Thanks Pete, this looks like a great way to stop the slugs from munching on shiitake, lion's mane and oyster logs. We have TONS of slugs in Oregon and they all like mushrooms.

That really is some ingenuity. Bravo!

You now are making me consider if slugs might be a more intelligent pest than I might of previously thought.

Im glad you shared this. I started logs last year that just started to fruit and have made another batch this year. I haven't gotten slugs yet, but I know once I start getting fruit in spring/ summer this info will save some mushrooms. I currently have logs Lincoln style and a lot in the low lean until they fruit next year. Hope you get piles of shrooms! Thanks again!

Pete Podurgiel wrote:I don't know about you, but I've had it with slugs chewing on my mushrooms, so I've been working on various ways to create 'slug barriers' to keep them off my logs. Not wanting to use commercial slug bait or beer traps, I settled on working with copper.

So from what you've found is that using mushrooms a slug bait to provide slugs for my ducks may be a viable approach?

Do you find that you need to clean the copper periodically for it to keep working, or does it still work when oxidized?

Timothy Norton wrote:

You now are making me consider if slugs might be a more intelligent pest than I might of previously thought.

I have found that where a desirable food is involved, all pests I've met have been quite capable of showing both intelligence and persistence.

I think this is what I need for my seedling table....

I was going to suggest a trail of crushed eggshells around the perimeter of the area, or beer traps but it looks like everything is covered!  

I have heard of that eggshell trick, also Diatomaceous earth is said to work.

Has anyone tried beer traps?  Salt or coffee grounds?

Jay Angler wrote:
So from what you've found is that using mushrooms a slug bait to provide slugs for my ducks may be a viable approach?

Do you find that you need to clean the copper periodically for it to keep working, or does it still work when oxidized?

HA - yes, I suppose you could use mushrooms to lure in the slugs for your ducks.   As far as cleaning the copper goes, nope, haven't had to do it yet. But that's something I'm keeping an eye on.

Nancy Reading wrote:I think this is what I need for my seedling table....

I'm thinking the same about using them to protect my lettuce plants.  I've made portable stands with copper legs that I'm using to protect for my totems. I need to make more for use under grow bags.  Nothing worse than finding a half-dissolved slug in my salad.  Gag!

Here's a few pics of my portable stands.  They're fashioned from scrap 2x4's using 1/4 x 5" lag screws to secure the assembly together.

They are pretty easy to make.  Simply clamp the two boards together and predrill a pilot hole though them.  Separate them and insert the copper pipe (I used 3/4" diameter about 2" in length), then drive the lag bolt through the pilot holes and your done,  They work better in pairs and can also be used between stacked pallets to provide a larger footprint, if desired.  This is the setup i envision for my lettuce grow bags.

Revo Smith wrote:Im glad you shared this. I started logs last year that just started to fruit and have made another batch this year. I haven't gotten slugs yet, but I know once I start getting fruit in spring/ summer this info will save some mushrooms. I currently have logs Lincoln style and a lot in the low lean until they fruit next year. Hope you get piles of shrooms! Thanks again!

Revo, are those nameko mushrooms? What kind of logs are those? And if they are nameko, how do they taste? I'm thinking about growing nameko, but I'm wary of the slime factor...