Our one and only dahlia plant!

That's a beauty Chris! Couldn't you put them in pots with a copper belt round?

I grew lots from seed this year, lost all but 2 to slugs.
This is a very pretty one if you can keep it!

Smearing Vaseline around the rim of the pots is supposed to deter the slugs and snails ... not tried it myself though!

I'm afraid they are planted in the ground! If I do grow any more, IF I do, I shall put them in pots and try to protect them!

I'm sure they would be fine in pots,Chris,and I have some copper tape around one of my Terracotta pots,which has been there for a number of years..It doesn't stand out ,as the colour blends in ok :o) The other pots have been fine too,stood on the Gravel.To be honest,I'm amazed they have still been slug and snail free !They have been known to be brave,or daft enough to chance it :o) I only tried Vaseline once,as it looked and felt horrible,if soil got smeared on the rims,and I tried to wipe it off ...yuk ! sorry Julia .:o)

That pretty same here slugs got mine too.

Bloomer, your dahlias have been beautiful this year so maybe copper tape should be my answer too. Your description of the Vaseline effect has certainly put me off!!

Oh dear Thrupennybit, I have every sympathy with you.

Chris,The tape I got ,was only from one of the Pound shops,but it certainly worked.Sorry,the Vaseline does sound a bit nasty,but if it works,that's the main thing.

That’s a real shame, Chris. This ones a real beauty too!

The earwigs love them to Chris , we use to put a pot on top of a cane filled with straw they would make it their new home ..