How To Get Rid Of Slugs and Snails in the Garden

Slugs feed on dead garden animals, tender your plants, rotten matter, fungi, decomposing plants, and even paper. Snails feed on the leaves of living plants, fruits, stems, barks, young tender plant roots, and flowers. Besides seeing these pests in your garden other signs suggest the presence of these uninvited guests.

Signs of snails

Signs of snails may include a clear substance that leaves a trail, in some cases, it looks gross, this substance is known as mucus and helps the snail to move over the soil surface easily. Another sign of snails in your garden is that the leaves don’t only have this mucus which some folks call slime but holes can be seen in the leaves

Signs of slugs

The signs of slugs and snails are closely related. With slugs, you will notice a clear white smiley substance and large ragged holes in the flowers and leaves of tender plants.

As you continue your detective work you will also in some cases notice this clear slime on the soil surface that will give clear evidence of which direction the slug is headed.

Controlling snails and slugs in the garden

Even though snails and slugs cause damage to plant life the good news, however, is some measures can be taken to bring these garden pests under control to not only ensure your garden plant’s survival but to ensure that your plants yield a good harvest. What’s the use of all that hard work and not being able to reap the rewards?

Slugs and snails are active from spring through fall so during this time be on the lookout for them in your garden. Slugs and snails can lay dozens of eggs up to six times per year making them very difficult to control.

Slugs and snails are active on cloudy days, at night times, or just before dawn. Places to check include under rocks, plants, old pieces of board, and other matted garden debris.

Control Measures

• Hand-picking and placing them in a bucket of water with dish detergent.
• Several baits can be purchased but it is good to purchase those that are non-toxic.
• Cultural practices have given good results. Using barriers such as sand mulches, pine nuggets, and gravel is a safe and natural way to discourage snails and slugs from your garden.
• Using eggshells is a safe and effective method. Allow the shells to dry and then crush and scatter them through your garden. The jagged edges will cut into their bodies making it painful for them and as the eggshells break down calcium will be added to the soil.
• Sprinkling coffee on the ground and around offers temporary help.
• Keep plants and soil dry as much as you can because snails and slugs are attracted by moisture. This is the condition they prefer to lay their eggs, so controlling, moisture will discourage snails.
• Snails and slugs are a good delicacy for ducks and chickens. This is a natural way to bring them under control.
• Soaking a piece of board in beer will attract them. Catch them and place them in a bucket of water and dish liquid will eliminate them.

Controlling Slugs and Snails with Pesticides

Pesticides can be used to control slugs and snails some of these pesticides are:

• Bayer Adv Natrial Snail and Slug Killer Bait Rtu
• Earth-Tone Slug and Snail Control
• Niban Granular Bait
• Mother Earth Granular Scatter Bait
• Monterey Sluggo Molluscicide

Before applying snail pesticides read and follow the manufacturer’s directions for the best results or contact us and let us help you to bring control to snail and slug issues.

Bonus Tips Just for You

• Companion Planting is a great way to prevent garden pests, and discourage snails and slugs from your valuable crops by installing plants that they love near your valued crops. Snails love thyme, marigold chervil, hosta, etc… these plants are used as a trap so when the snails are attracted by these plants you can catch them and throw them into a container of soapy water.
• Consider planting in raised bed gardens.
• Water your garden early in the morning, this will allow the soil surface to dry out before night when snails come out.
• Leafy greens and salads can be started in plug trays or pots
• Copper is an ideal barrier material for snails since the metal creates electric shocks that make it difficult for snails to navigate. Simply place a strip of copper around your garden or any other place you’d like to keep snails away from. It can also be effective to sprinkle copper fragments around these areas.
• Snails hate the smell of garlic, rosemary, basil, sage, and parsley, installing these plants as a barrier around your garden should keep snails at bay or at least reduce their presence.

Conclusion

I must agree snails and slugs are a menace but the good news is you can win the war by using these various methods so don’t despair the battle against these garden pests has just fallen in your favor. Or contact us and let us help you to put a plan in place that will give your garden plants a fitting chance they thrive providing you with a good harvest.