As a gardener, nothing is more frustrating than nurturing your plants only to have slugs and snails destroy them overnight These slimy pests can decimate vegetable and flower gardens in no time, leaving behind only chewed up leaves and stems. But we don’t have to let them take over our hard work! Copper tape is an effective slug and snail repellent that can help protect plants without the mess and toxicity of traditional baits In this article, I’ll go over why copper tape works, provide copper tape reviews, and make recommendations for the best copper tape for keeping slugs and snails away.
Why Copper Tape Repels Slugs and Snails
Copper reacts with the slime slugs and snails secrete, giving them a mild electric shock that repels them. Unlike baits, copper tape uses this natural repellent effect so there is no mess, odor, or dead slugs and snails to clean up afterwards. It’s an eco-friendly physical barrier that makes plants unattractive to these pests
Copper tape can be wrapped around planter edges, garden beds, pot rims, and plant stems to block access and prevent slugs and snails from climbing up. The width of most copper tape means it lays flat and can be easily secured. And unlike diatomaceous earth barriers, copper tape won’t blow away and remains effective when wet.
What To Look For In Copper Tape
When choosing copper tape, here are some key features to look for:
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Pure copper: Lower quality copper tape contains only copper plating which wears off quickly. Pure copper content ensures longevity through weather and repeated slug and snail contact.
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Good adhesion: The adhesive needs to be strong enough to securely hold the tape in place on various surfaces. Waterproof adhesive prevents lifting or peeling off.
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Flexibility: You want copper tape that’s malleable enough to mold smoothly around curved surfaces and corners. Tape that’s too stiff or thick is hard to work with.
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Width: Standard width is 1/2 inch but wider 3/4 inch tape provides broader plant coverage. Narrow 1/4 inch tape works well for small pots or wrapping delicate plant stems.
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Durability: High quality copper tape can last up to 8 years outdoors. Look for tough construction that resists corrosion.
Copper Tape Reviews
With so many copper tape products available, here are reviews of my top picks:
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Slug Off Professional Copper Tape – With 99.9% pure copper, this tape has proven superior repelling ability. It lays flat and the extra strong adhesive prevents any lifting or curling at the edges. The 1/2 inch width fits most applications and it bends easily around curves. Overall the best quality and value copper tape.
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Corry’s Slug and Snail Copper Tape – This 3/4 inch wide tape provides maximum plant coverage. The adhesive could be a bit stickier but it’s easy to work with and mold around pots and planters. The pure copper holds up well outside. A solid mid-range option.
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Organic Laboratories Copper Tape – For a budget copper tape, this works decently to repel slugs and snails. The thin copper plating means durability is lacking but it’s usable for a season or two. The narrow 1/4 inch width limits its effectiveness for larger spaces.
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Slug Shield Copper Barrier Tape – This brand suffers from poor adhesion with the tape detaching easily when disturbed. It also does not bend well around corners or curves. Low copper purity and ineffective performance make this a copper tape to avoid.
Recommendations for the Best Copper Tape
For keeping slugs and snails away from your prized plants, I recommend Slug Off Professional Copper Tape. Here’s why:
- Highest copper purity for maximum slug and snail repelling ability
- Extra strong adhesive stays in place through any weather condition
- 1/2 inch width suits most garden applications
- Easily moldable around curved surfaces and pot rims
- Durable construction for longevity, lasting up to 8 years
While a bit more expensive upfront, Slug Off tape’s superior quality and longevity make it worthwhile for effectively blocking slugs and snails season after season. Your plants will thank you!
For covering larger spaces, go with the broader Corry’s Slug and Snail Copper Tape. It provides maximum plant protection at a reasonable price point.
When dealing with delicate flowers and seedlings, wrap stems with Organic Laboratories Copper Tape. The thin 1/4 inch width tape is perfect for smaller plants. Just expect to replace it yearly.
With the right copper tape choice for your needs, you can humanely and effectively keep slugs and snails from destroying all your hard gardening work. Protect your plants with a natural, eco-friendly barrier. Your garden will thrive slug and snail free!
Why Does Copper Work?
There are two reasons given for copper working as a slug repellent; toxicity and electric shock.
Copper can kill or poison many living things, and some chemicals made from copper are used to clean and kill living things. It seems to make sense that copper tape or copper wire would have the same effect. If you think about this for a minute you will realize this can’t work. Most homes in North America use copper pipe to deliver water in our homes. If it were toxic – would we be using them?.
Copper compounds may be toxic, but copper metal is not.
The green patina developed on copper metal over time is a copper carbonate salt and could be toxic.
According to the second claim, slug slime connects with copper and gives the slug a small electric shock. This is unpleasant and slugs stay off the copper.
I have not been able to find any scientific reference showing that this is true. It is just repeated thousands of times. So let’s apply some logic. You can create a simple battery by inserting copper wire and a galvanized nail into a lemon. This will produce a small current that is measurable. You need 3 important components to make this work; two electrodes of different metals, and an electrolyte–the juice in the lemon. If you want to see a lemon battery in action have a look at this video.
For snails, copper and slug slime, which is an electrolyte, are present. The second electrode is missing. Also missing is the connection between the two electrodes which allows the current to flow. I don’t believe that putting slime onto copper will produce an electric charge.
Does Copper Repel Slugs?
Let’s look at some video evidence.
Copper pennies and wire do not seem to work. Most products on the market are a type of copper foil or copper tape so this might work better and in fact some people suggest that a wider strip is better than a narrow strip. Source: Copper Tape vs Slugs
That seemed to work quite well. But what about this video?
Maybe some slugs hate copper more than others.
And this one:
Copper Mesh – Slug & Snail Defence and Rodent Exclusion, from Agile Home and Garden
FAQ
How thick does copper tape need to be to deter slugs?
Does copper wire really deter slugs?
What is the best barrier for slugs?