Snails - AAAGGGHHHH!!!!!

[baab95]

Could anybody please offer me some advice as to how to get rid of the snails in my garden as they are currently dining on my hellebores and violets. I would prefer not to use snail bait, so any alternative suggestions would be greatly appreciated!Thanks - Baab95

[keepersdaughter]

baab found this site: http://www.familymatters.tv/level_4/homeandgarden/snails.htm

it has some useful tips.

I think this question may have come up a while ago, maybe it was on the gardening section, maybe tips tips there too.

[Shelli]

Will this work - it was for slugs rather than snails?

I read an article in Homefarmer magazine - (it's very good by the way) - in which the writer waged a long campaign to find the best way to get rid of slugs - she did all the usual stuff - introduced predators - baited with beer -manual clearance - lots of stuff

The most successful method she found was to put a plank in a corner and in the morning collect and dispose of all the slugs hiding on the underside - she said it worked a treat, she always knew where they were and could collect up easily

I haven't tried it myself and dont know if it would work for snails ? - easy enough to give it a go though

I have also heard it said that snails won't cross copper (it does something chemical to them !!) - they do copper flash banding for roofing - i think it is 2 inches wide - surrounding your beds with this will keep them away too

[franbee]

I found a snail bait at B&Q which says it doesn't get into the food chain, the pellets dissolve harmlessly into the ground and the slugs and snails go away to die. I use it sparingly when they are active, and managed to get my hostas to full growth without being eaten to lace.
The other thing you can do is pray for cold dry weather then they won't be about!

[dragonfly]

I have tried everything going except copper tape and bran which I will try next year.

The trouble is if you surround your plot with copper tape or copper tubing (that plumbers use) they won't cross it to get into your plot but there will already be millions in the plot that have to be got rid of.

If you put bran round individual plants or groups of plants the slugs/snails are supposed to eat it and swell and die. Hope it works.

The only sure way I know of is picking them off. I go round with a pair of tweezers and pick them into a plastic bag then tie knot in bag and put in bin, I used to put them in a jar but have to recycle them now. I once collected over 200 slugs for seven consecutive nights then gave up. I think every slug for miles made a b-line for my garden.

Beer traps kill the ones that go in it but not many do go in it.

I'm sure putting a plank in a damp corner would work. A piece of carpet, ceramic tile and even a plastic bag (compost bag) weighted down has worked for me.

I don't believe anything really works for no matter how many I get rid of there is always plenty more to fill the gap.

Good luck Baa, I hope you have more luck than me.

[Ivy]

Be careful with the copper as it is very poisonous and not suitable for vegetable beds as the plants take in the copper and you eat a high concentration in your salads or sprouts or whatever. Can be fatal in pregnancy and for small children!

[Rustic Pumpkin]

Sadly, there is only one truly effective method of slug and snail control and that is to dispatch them!

Personally, I find this offensive as it goes against my nature. I cannot knowingly cause harm to any living thing. Even the living things that eat my vegetables!

This year I am preparing to attack the fiends on many levels in all out war. Hopefully they will give up and move next door!

1. Clear away all possible hiding places, stones, piles of debris, cracks in the walls.
2. Put out the old beer traps. This way they have two chances, and I cannot be responsible or have it on my conscience if they decide to take a swim! (will of Allah, and all that)
3. Treat ground with nematodes solution. Not my fault if they can't get out of the way of said nematodes. This has about a 60% success rate, but is one major step in the overall battle.
4. Chuck 'em over the wall. However, they do come back. If possible, take them as far away as is humanly possible, but they do, apparently, have a very strong homing tendancy. However, it might take weeks to cover 10 or more miles!:)
5. On non-food areas use copper tape on pots, sprinkle the compost with a thick layer of either sharp sand, eggshells, or coffee grounds (stinks a bit though). A wide band of slippery vaseline also helps on pots, but can be unsightly.
6. Try 'unfriendly' planting. However, the past two years my monopodded enemies have munched their merry way through some very prickly, hairy, and strong tasting things, like borage, courgettes, onions and garlic. They also love my raspberries, despite the prickly stems.

It is not something that responds to one single successful treatment and we will never rid ourselves, but if treated on all fronts I hope I can minimise the damage this year.

[baab95]

Thanks for all the fabulous advice - I will endeavour to implement as many of these suggestions as I can. I only hope I have some degree of success, as many of my violets already have that lace-like quality that Fran referred to.

[Rustic Pumpkin]

Of course, if only I can practice what I preach!

[Shelli]

4. Chuck 'em over the wall. However, they do come back. If possible, take them as far away as is humanly possible, but they do, apparently, have a very strong homing tendancy. However, it might take weeks to cover 10 or more miles!:)

- Catapult!!

[bonnie]

Do you know we have not had one snail or slug this autumn or winter, normaly we are plagued with them.

[Rustic Pumpkin]

There is something afoot! They are probably all hiding in a corner planning some cunning plot to devour your garden! Perhaps you are not putting out enough of the right foodstuff for them, Bonnie? Are you putting out plenty of fresh, young plants, and lots of hostas and lupins? Don't forget, they like their greens, so make sure they have a plentiful supply of lettuce too!

[franbee]

I used to throw snails up onto the garage roof for the birds to deal with them!

[bonnie]

They normaly attack my pots but not this year. Fran i couldn't pick one up. eek.
I love gardening but if i see a snake [worm ] or a wooly bear bug i'm gone.

[dragonfly]

Bonnie I cultivate worms as they are very good for the garden. I have just bought a wormery and have to send off for my packet of worms when the weather warms up. If you don't like picking up snails just cut them in half with your secateurs and leave them for the birds.

[Crocus]

My dad used to put salt on the snails, but I could never look as it upset me to much!

[franbee]

Wear rubber gloves bonnie, and just handle the shell!

[bonnie]

:eek: Fran don't go there:eek:

[MrZebra]

They normaly attack my pots but not this year. Fran i couldn't pick one up. eek.
I love gardening but if i see a snake [worm ] or a wooly bear bug i'm gone.

lol, snake :D

My mum is the exact opposite - if she sees a worm, then all digging has to stop while said worm is "rescued" and put somewhere safe. As you can imagine, digging even the smallest hole takes AGES.

Some clever person whose name escapes me once said something along the lines of this: "You can never have too many slugs, only too few ducks." Apparently ducks are marvellous at getting rid of slugs, if you can keep them. They're good food for the little hedgehogs too.

[Rustic Pumpkin]

Worms = GOOD
Slugs/Snails = BAD

[bonnie]

:eek:They are still snakes to me.:eek::eek: