ground beetles and no dig

[CharlieMember]

I read today that a good mulch and minimal cultivation is an ideal environment for ground beetles – the best slug predator. This may be another reason why the no dig method means fewer slugs, which is great news.

[charlesModerator]

 Funny you should post this as the other day while picking leaves of endive, we noticed a lovely ground beetle, quite small and black, and I hoped it would devour a slug before we finished! It didn’t but the endives are healthy and clear of any significant slug damage.

It does seem that not digging helps maintain a balance – which means less slugs, not no slugs – and no till farmers find the same, although it takes a year of transition after they stop ploughing for slug predators to recolonise the soil.

 

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